the
LENT/EASTER 2015
MESSENGER BRYN MAWR PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
VOLUME 117 | ISSUE 2
LENT AND HOLY WEEK pages 7 - 10
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Senior Adults Ministry Update (page 3) Adult Education (pages 5 - 6) Progressive Worship Walk (page 11) Children and Youth Ministries (pages 13 - 14)
Letter from the Pastor Dear Friends, For many years I have made it a habit at the beginning of the year to turn to a collection of daily devotions by Presbyterian minister and author, Frederick Buechner, and read one of his writings excerpted for January 1: Listen to your life. All moments are key moments. I have discovered that if you really keep your eye peeled to it and your ears open, if you really pay attention to it, even such a limited and limiting life as the one I was living opened up onto extraordinary vistas. Taking your children to school and kissing your wife goodbye. Eating lunch with a friend. Trying to do a decent day’s work. Hearing the rain patter against the window. There is no event so commonplace but that God is present within it… If I were called upon to state in a few words the essence of everything I was trying to say both as a novelist and a preacher, it would be something like this: Listen to your life. See it for the fathomless mystery that it is. In the boredom and pain of it no less than in the excitement and gladness… because in the last analysis all moments are key moments, and life itself is grace. I return to these words again and again because they speak to me as an individual who is continually looking for signs of the presence of God. I have also nearly committed them to memory because they speak to me as a pastor, leading this congregation to worship and adore God for fathomless mysteries, to respond with grateful and generous lives to the abundance of God’s blessings, and to serve God by following in the footsteps of Jesus Christ. For two years now, I have been listening intently to the life of Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church. Listening to stories of individuals. Listening to bold decisions made years ago that led this church into ministries to which we are still committed. Listening to what various kinds of transitions have meant for BMPC. Listening to new ideas about where God might be calling us in this new era of being church together. This year, the church staff, our elected leadership and others with their “eyes peeled and ears opened” will continue to listen, but we will also begin to act on some of the things we are hearing. There are three senior staff positions to fill: Adult Education and Mission, Pastoral Care and Senior Adults, and Stewardship. One search is in process and the others will begin in the coming months. Hopefully, growth in giving and stewardship will enable us to open upon some new vistas for mission and program. A Property Vision Team, comprised of elders and trustees, is developing a plan for how to be better stewards of our buildings and grounds by projecting long term maintenance needs rather than just reacting to emergency needs. They are intent on prioritizing capital renovations in line with the priorities of our mission and program. Any new thing this year brings in mission, staffing or program will unfold from a spiritual discipline of listening — listening to our hopes and dreams for this congregation, and listening for God in this key moment in the life of this great church. Grace and Peace,
1 MESSENGER | Lent/Easter 2015
Agnes Norfleet
Staff Updates Colleen Wickstrum, Administrative Assistant to Stewardship and Development. Her devotion to her family and her parish, as well as years of experience in Human Resources, make Colleen a great addition to our staff. She works with Sarah Miciek as part of our Finance Team. Lorraine Stevens, Seminary Intern for Youth Ministry. The Rev. Stevens is a student at Palmer Theological Seminary. She is spending a year with BMPC as our Seminary Intern, working with the Rev. Kellen Smith as part of our Youth Ministry. Mary Richards, Administrative Assistant to Children and Family Ministry. Mary has a Master’s Degree in Child Life, Administration and Family Collaboration. She lives in Havertown and is a member of Springfield Presbyterian Church. Mary works with the Rev. Rachel Pedersen as part of our Children and Family Ministry. Laura Weaver, Communications Coordinator. Laura graduated in December from Eastern University with a B.A. in Marketing and a B.S. in Management and joined the BMPC staff two days later. She is an active member of her church. Laura works with Donna Barrickman as part of our Communications Team. Josh Negron, Facilities Specialist. Josh joined the BMPC staff in January and is taking the evening shift, with primary responsibility for the Education Building. Josh comes to us with many years of experience in industrial cleaning and with glowing recommendations from past employers. Josh works with Rich Rivera as part of our Facilities Team.
Chapel Organ 20th Anniversary Concert By Edward Landin
There are many churches with organs close to the quality of our Rieger in the Sanctuary, but not many churches have an organ in their Chapel that is as impressive as ours. Not only a wonderful service-playing instrument, the Chapel organ is capable of performing organ repertoire of all periods and styles. On Sunday, February 8, at 2:00 p.m., Jeff Brillhart and I are excited to perform a concert on the Chapel organ celebrating 20 years since its restoration. The program will feature works for organ plus other instruments including piano, violin, cello, harp, and voice. The program will begin with an immense work by German Romantic composer, Sigfrid Karg-Elert, scored for organ, violin, and four female voices. Fuge, Kanzone, und Epilog is rarely performed and the intimate space of the Chapel is the perfect venue to experience the architectural beauty of this masterpiece. Other works include César Franck’s Prélude, Fugue, et Variation in an arrangement for organ and piano, Marcel Grandjany’s elegant Aria in a Classic Style for organ and harp, as well as a work for organ and violin by local composer, Kathleen Scheide, based on the hymn tune Terra Beata. The program will end with an organ duet — four hands and four feet (!) — by French Canadian composer, Denis Bédard. Tickets aren’t needed; a free-will offering will be received. 2 MESSENGER | Lent/Easter 2015
Senior Adults Ministry Update By Dick Wohlschlaeger
I’ve had a busy and richly rewarding first couple of months as your part-time Interim Associate Pastor for Senior Adults and Pastoral Care. There have been visits to local hospitals, gatherings at several of our retirement homes, my first BMPC memorial service, worship leadership almost every Sunday – and, best of all, so many encounters with lovely people of the congregation. I feel very blessed to have this opportunity to serve the greater Church and this particular congregation for a time. It feels like an appropriate pathway to full retirement following my 20 years as pastor at Swarthmore. I have found the congregation uniformly warm and generous in your gift of hospitality. And I couldn’t ask for a better staff, pastoral and support, with which to be ministering daily and building relationships for the future. As a part-time replacement for Charles Grant, I can do only part of what he did so ably among you these past years. But I will try my best to concentrate primarily on visitation and programming for senior adults as well as worship leadership, helping the other pastors lift up the Holy Spirit among us week to week. Blessings, Richard Wohlschlaeger
Senior Adult Council Brunch Sun. Feb. 15, 11:00 a.m. in Congregational Hall
“Presbyterian Pioneers in the Far East and the Wild West: Stories of One American Family”
William Lake Leonard, Esq., a ruling elder at The First Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia and an active member of the Presbyterian Historical Society’s Board of Directors and Delaware Valley Council, presents a virtual microcosm of American Presbyterianism as he shares stories and photographs of his family from the Presbyterian Historical Society’s collections. Among them are his great aunt, a physician and medical missionary who was instrumental in introducing modern medicine and medical education in 19th century China, and his grandfather, a Presbyterian minister and home missionary in Indian and Oklahoma Territories. Contact AmyBauer@bmpc.org, ext. 8821, by Feb. 11 to reserve a seat for the program and catered meal ($15). 3 MESSENGER | Lent/Easter 2015
Welcome to Our Newest Members
Catherine Boman Bryn Mawr
Dan & Judy Sherry Newtown Square
Andrew & Jennifer Navarro Villanova
Susan Shaffer Wynnewood
Peter & Sara Nicholas Wynnewood
Anne & Ellie Willkomm Bryn Mawr
If you aren’t a BMPC member, we invite you to make this your church home! Upcoming New Member Sundays are February 22 and April 26. Contact DonnaBarrickman@bmpc.org, ext. 8809.
Member Spotlight: Judith Ehrman By Donna Barrickman
You may have met or spoken to Judy without knowing it - she’s one of our volunteer receptionists who answers the church phone. But this is only one of many volunteer interests that keep Judy busy! Judy joined BMPC in 2001 after attending for many years prior. Since then, church activities bring Judy to our campus most days of the week. She’s always enjoyed our adult education classes and Bible studies and regularly attends Women’s Coffee Cup Bible Study. She also sings with our Singing for Life choir, knits prayer shawls and baby blankets for our Caregiving and Family ministries, participates on Service Days, and serves on the Community Forum and Environmental Justice Committees. She served on three Pastor Nominating Committees, including the one that nominated Agnes. She was ordained as an Elder (2005-2011) and currently serves as a Trustee (Class of 2017). In 2012, to further her life in faith, she traveled to Israel on the BMPC-Main Line Reform Temple co-sponsored trip. Outside of church, Judy volunteers at the Philadelphia Zoo, where she serves as a docent and managing editor of its 2,000-page Education Manual. Ask her about baby lion cubs or anything to do with wildlife and she always has interesting insights to share! From her university experience as an exchange student in Finland, Judy developed her passion for travel and cross-cultural learning, which directly inspired her enduring commitment to environmental stewardship and social/economic justice. Judy describes her involvement at BMPC as “life-giving: the opportunities to nurture and be nurtured in my faith are foundational to my very being. I can’t imagine life without membership in this vibrant church community.” 4 MESSENGER | Lent/Easter 2015
Adult Education Mind, Body, and Spirit Wellness: Boost Your Brain and Memory by Ann Fossum and Lorie Benovic
For many years we have been bombarded with information about how to keep our bodies toned and youthful. But our bodies’ “command centers” have been overlooked. Only lately, with the aging of our population and concern over the prevalence of dementia among our seniors, have we begun to focus on brain health. Growing research confirms the effectiveness of lifestyle changes and fitness programs in decreasing the risk of dementia and cognitive decline. If you care about your memory, there are changes you can make and habits you can form that will build your “cognitive reserve.” Learn about mind, body and spiritual practices that enhance brain health by attending our eight session program, “Boost Your Brain & Memory,” on Wednesdays, April 8 - June 3, at 1:30 p.m. For more information, contact LorieBenovic@bmpc.org, ext 8833.
Other Wednesday gatherings: Weekday Contemplative Prayer Group, Women’s Coffee Cup Bible Study, Horizons Bible Study, and Men’s Discussion Group. For more information see our worship bulletins or contact CarolSchmidt@bmpc.org, ext. 8819.
Community Forum Distinguished Speaker Series: Tim Wise, Anti-Racism Author and Educator
Mon., April 20, 7:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary.
Tim Wise appears regularly on CNN and MSNBC to discuss race issues and was featured in a 2007 segment on 20/20. He believes that, sometimes inadvertently, institutions have been set up to foster and perpetuate white privilege and that subtle, impersonal, and even ostensibly race-neutral policies contribute to racism and racial inequality today. Wise’s antiracism work traces back to his days as a college activist in the 1980s, fighting for divestment from (and economic sanctions against) apartheid South Africa. He has spent the past 20 years speaking to audiences in all 50 states, on more than 1000 college and high school campuses, at hundreds of professional and academic conferences, and to community groups across the nation. His presentation is free and open to the public; a time for questions will follow.
Practicing Prayer: Bread for the Journey Sat., April 25, 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. in the Ministries Center
As part of the Middleton Center’s Spiritual Practices Series, The Rev. Dr. Steven H. Shussett, Teaching Presbyter and Stated Clerk of Lehigh Presbytery, helps us find a deeper and more fulfilling relationship with God by focusing on multiple ways to pray. For more information contact: JoyceKrajian@bmpc.org, 610-525-0766.
Childcare is available for most on-site events when reserved at least three days in advance, contact childcare@bmpc.org. 5 MESSENGER | Lent/Easter 2015
Breaking Bread Series This series began in January and has included a diverse list of our mission partners, local and international. From feeding Philadelphia’s hungry to building community in Mexico City, these committed individuals are sharing with us the many ways in which breaking bread is a crucial part of loving of our neighbors. Classes meet Sunday mornings at 11:15 a.m. with the exception of the Ample Harvest presentation on Monday, March 2, at 7:00 p.m. Attend one or all! February 22 and March 1 – “Mission Partners: Fortaleza.” A recipient of the 2014 Shaull Award, Fortaleza is located in slum and squatter communities of Mexico City. Our guest, Dr. Carmen Morrison, presents the unique concept of starting a new community that may be taken to other major cities in the developing world. Fortaleza uses community organizing, capacity building and leadership development as a context to address the great needs within the urban slums, building the capacity of residents to identify, plan, and take action. March 2 – “No Food Left Behind.” This program is one of the lectures offered in the Harcum College Centennial Lecture Series. BMPC is partnering to present Gary Oppenheimer, founder of AmpleHarvest.org, which connects 40+ million Americans with excess food in their gardens and local food pantries. Garden by garden, home and community gardeners and other growers are fighting hunger and malnutrition in America. Join us for dinner at 6:00 p.m. in Congregational Hall, followed by the program at 7:00 p.m. March 8 – “The Welcome Church – A Church Without Walls.” Proclaiming the hope and gracious God to all people and especially to people experiencing homelessness, the Rev. Schaunel Steinnegal will tell us about this “congregation” serving people in poverty. Officially recognized as a congregation (without a building) by the Evangelical Lutheran Church of American, its clergy team includes two Episcopal priests, a Presbyterian Minister, a United Methodist minister and a Minister of Music from the Seventh Day Adventist tradition.
In Vino, Veritas: The Spirituality and Theology of Wine Sundays, Feb. 1, 8, 15, 22, and March 1, 11:15 a.m.
Dr. Jon Pahl of the Lutheran Theological Seminary of Philadelphia returns to explore the Latin phrase in vino, veritas (in wine, truth). This five-week course explores the history, spirituality, and theology of wine, using narrative, art, and music.
Bible Basics: Joseph’s Saga Sundays, March 15, 22, and 29, 11:15 a.m.
The Rev. Dr. Nicole Duran leads this Bible study on Sundays, March 15, 22, and 29 at 11: 15 a.m. Discuss the stories in Genesis about Joseph, the 11th and most loved son of Jacob (who gave him a “long coat of many colors”); how Joseph’s story angered his older half brothers; and their eventual reconciliation. Who cannot relate to issues of sibling rivalry in family relationships? What’s the message for us?
Ongoing Sunday classes: Couples’ Bible Study, “Filling the Well” Women’s Group, and The Great Five Discourses in Matthew. For more information, see our worship bulletins or contact CarolSchmidt@bmpc.org, ext. 8819. 6 MESSENGER | Lent/Easter 2015
Journey to the
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Saying Yes to God By the Rev. Nicole Duran
The tradition of giving something up for Lent was intended to give Christians more time for self-examination, for service, and to renew our awareness of God. In other words, during Lent, Christians were to make extra mindful choices about how to spend their time and their money, to re-focus on what was most important. In an essay called, “Saying Yes and Saying No”, M. Shawn Copeland urges us as Christians not to “merely drift along,” following the path of least resistance, as one day follows the next. Rather we need to examine our choices — big and small — because, as Copeland points out, “What you decide today, you are tomorrow.” This Lent, let’s consider our decisions prayerfully. Let’s consider: to what new adventure in faith is God calling us? From what empty pursuit is God calling us away? Maybe the new choice will be less computer time, more time for our neighbors. Maybe it’s less shopping and more giving. God’s call is not easy to predict. What is predictable is that the things to which we are called will be more interesting, more lifegiving, and will mean more love and more joy, for ourselves and all those we encounter.
ASH WEDNESDAY
HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE
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5:30 p.m. Family Service in the Chapel with Imposition of Ashes, led by the Rev. Rachel Pedersen.
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6:00-7:30 p.m. Wednesday Night Dinner served in • Congregational Hall. Cost: $8/adults, $5/students • and children. All welcome.
Lent Begins, February 18
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7:30 p.m. Service in the Chapel with Imposition of Ashes, led by the Rev. Dr. Agnes W. Norfleet.
2015 LENTEN DEVOTIONAL Our 2015 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 and Easter, copies will be available in the Ministries Center and Sanctuary by 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.
7 MESSENGER | Lent/Easter 2015
Palm Sunday, March 29
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 2 •
6:00 p.m. Simple supper in Congregational Hall. Free-will offering.
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7:30 p.m. Worship with Communion in the Sanctuary, led by the Rev. Dr. Agnes W. Norfleet.
Good Friday, April 3 •
12:00 noon. Service commemorating Good Friday in the Sanctuary, led by BMPC Youth.
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7:30 p.m. Musical worship experience in the Sanctuary led by the Rev. Bill Carter and his Presbybop Jazz Quartet featuring Psalms of Lament and congregational singing.
Easter Sunday, April 5 •
6:30 a.m. Sunrise Service on the front lawn, led by the Rev. Rachel Pedersen. Continental breakfast follows.
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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.
Lenten Focus 2015: Sown in Tears
Exploring Stories of Tragedy, Struggle, and Reconciliation By the Rev. Nicole Duran Lent gives us courage to face the emptiness within and around us, knowing that the coming resurrection redeems even the most hopeless of human experiences. In our observance of Lent this year, we see laid out in music, painting, and the spoken word, visions of meaning found among darkness and chaos. We remember and lament “man’s inhumanity to man,” even as we examine those steps taken toward reconciliation and forgiveness. Several featured presentations touch on living with the memory of the Nazi Holocaust or of other genocides of the 20th century, from the experience of the Armenians in the early 1900s to that of Rwandans in the 1990s. Tim Horner from Villanova will be speaking about the concept of restorative justice in the aftermath of genocide, and Jane Golden will show us how the concept of restorative justice plays out in Philadelphia’s Mural Arts Program. As we journey toward Easter, speakers and artistic presentations will help us process our own difficult history and consider what in these experiences can lead to forgiveness and resurrection.
WEDNESDAY EVENINGS DURING LENT
Dinner in Congregational Hall: 5:45 - 7:00 p.m. ($8 adults / $5 students) Classes 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. in the Ministries Center
February 25 - Poetry, Genocide, and Healing Gregory Djanikian, Director of the Creative Writing Program at the University of Pennsylvania and author of six published collections of poetry, will help us understand poetry as an invitation to explore the inner space of healing. He will lead us in a conversation about the Armenian genocide and read from So I Will Till The Ground, his collection of poems about the genocide and its aftermath.
March 4 - When Changing the Subject Doesn’t Work: How to Talk about Tragedy and Justice with Children
No matter how we would like to protect them, our children will encounter tragic images and stories of great injustice. In this discussion, the Rev. Rachel Pedersen shares resources and ways of framing these difficult conversations to help our children and grandchildren find their responses of faith.
March 11 - Mural Arts Program Lecture and Tour Jane Golden, Executive Director of the City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program, talks about how the Mural Arts program engages more than 100 communities each year in the transformation of neighborhoods. Of the 399 inmates and youth in residential placement centers through 2011, only 10% of re-entry workers employed by the Mural Arts program re-offended within a year of their release. Tour the murals Sat., Mar. 14, the cost is $24 per person, bus departs BMPC at 9:00 a.m. For information contact AmyBauer@bmpc.org, ext. 8821.
March 18 and 25 - Restorative Justice Dr. Tim Horner, Assistant Professor at Villanova and director of the Center for Peace and Justice, states that “in order to be curious about the world, you must have the capacity to contain what you find.” He will share his research about the Gacaca Court System that was used after Rwandan genocide. Much can be learned about this controversial topic. 8 MESSENGER | Lent/Easter 2015
Music and Fine Arts:
Works to Provide Restorative Justice
In commemoration of the 70th Anniversary of PEACE in 1945 after World War II, Fine Arts Council offers music, drama, and artistic works to provide restorative justice for past suffering and loss of life. For more information about the events that follow as well as other Fine Arts ministries at BMPC, contact StephanieSpeakman@bmpc.org, ext. 8836.
Metronome Ticking – A Docudrama Presentation By Susan Rittenhouse Joseph On Sunday, March 1, at 2:00 p.m. in Congregational Hall, our Fine Arts Council presents a live and moving docudrama, Metronome Ticking. It was created from the actual writings of two very different people living through the horrors of World War II in Europe: letters written by Ernst-Alfred (Alf) Eger, a Nazi Propaganda Officer, to his wife, Gritt; and the memoirs of Lily Spitz, an Austrian Holocaust survivor. Lily and Alf never met, but their sons did. The sons have used their parents’ words and photographs to create a powerful image of what Europe was like during World War II. Henrik Eger and Robert Spitz read these words in juxtaposition as the story follows the two through their separate struggles. Eger begins as an enthusiastic supporter of the Nazi regime. Lily’s story traces her life through the shock of her husband’s disappearance along with most Jewish men in Vienna, then learning that he is at Dachau. You must see the play to discover out what happens to these people. It has shocking and challenging moments, but it is also uplifting. Come and watch the story unfold. A free-will offering will be received; a discussion period and a reception will follow the play.
Passages from Light to Dark: Images of My Mother’s Journey Through the Holocaust By Jean Wolf and Bonnie Atwood Reena Milner Brooks, artist, presents Passages from Light to Dark: Images of My Mother’s Journey Through the Holocaust in our Ministries Center from February 23-April 19. Inspired by a family trip to the Holocaust Memorial in Washington, D.C., Reena decided to portray interpretations and experiences of her mother, a Holocaust survivor who, at the age of 15 in 1944, conquered horrible situations. Using her father’s chronological history of her mother’s continually emerging story, the artist offers mixed media monotypes, collages, and paintings with texture and layering techniques that incorporate common printed or collaged household materials. Some works feature dated material from LIFE magazine that juxtapose life in America with her mother’s trials. Meet the artist at a reception on Sunday, March 1, following Metronome Ticking. 9 MESSENGER | Lent/Easter 2015
Choir Vespers – To Be Certain of the Dawn
By Jeffrey Brillhart
This March, BMPC’s Sanctuary Choir and Choir School (grades 4-12) will present Stephen Paulus’s To Be Certain of the Dawn, an hour-long choral-orchestral work that commemorates the tens of thousands of children who perished in the Holocaust. Because this work is so large, we will join forces with singers from the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul Because this work is so large, we in Philadelphia and Main Line Reform Temple in will join forces with singers from Wynnewood. The combined choirs will number more than 180 singers and will be supported by The the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, one of the world’s Peter and Paul in Philadelphia finest orchestras.
and from Main Line Reform Temple in Wynnewood.
To Be Certain of the Dawn was commissioned by the Basilica of Saint Mary in Minneapolis as a gift to Temple Israel synagogue in commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi death camps in 1945 and the 40th anniversary of the Vatican document Nostra Aetate (In Our Time). It evolved over four years – beginning with the idea of Father Michael O’Connell, then rector of the Basilica, that Christians must own and teach about the Holocaust as much as or more than Jews. It was he who decided that an oratorio would be a powerful vehicle for communicating a message that children are key to the prevention of genocide, both today and in the future. The concert will be performed twice – on Friday, March 20, at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Philadelphia, and also here at BMPC on Sunday, March 22, at 4:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary. Tickets for the BMPC performance are $25 for adults and $10 for students and may be purchased at www.bmpc.org or by contacting StephanieSpeakman@bmpc.org, ext. 8836. Tickets for the performance at the Cathedral are available at cathedralphilaconcerts.org.
Origami Cranes: A Labor of Love By the Rev. Rachel Pedersen According to an ancient Japanese legend, cranes are associated with good fortune, whether in the form of a granted wish, eternal good luck, long life, or recovery from illness or injury. Our fourth and fifth grade Sunday school classes learned of the paper crane as a symbol for hope, love, honor, and peace when they heard the post-World War II story about young Sadako Sasaki and her attempt to make 1000 cranes while praying from her hospital bed for her recovery and world peace. In response, our students folded their own origami cranes, to be displayed in our Ministries Center during Lent in a presentation created by Mickey Cooper. Each crane contains a prayer or message of hope from the young person who made it, and a book of these messages will accompany the exhibit. 10 MESSENGER | Lent/Easter 2015
Progressive Worship Walk
A Celebration of the Connectional Church By Nicole Duran
Is it a demonstration? In a way. Is it a fundraiser? Maybe a little. But more than either, it is an adventure in practicing our faith together, outside of our own building, with our feet. On Sat. April 18, The Worship Walk will start here at BMPC with a call to worship at 8:30 a.m., and then proceed to Ardmore Presbyterian for a hymn, and then to Overbrook Presbyterian for a prayer of The Progressive Worship Walk confession, and so on through First African Presbyterian and Calvin and Lombard Central, finally to arrive at Arch Street Presbyterian Church, right in Center City, for a musical benediction. Each piece of the worship service will be led by people from that congregation, and at each stop we will be gathering new walkers to continue worshipping with us, so that while we walk, we also can hear from them about what God is doing in their community. It sounds like much too far, but it isn’t—only ten miles! That may not be a stroll in the park, but it’s not Mt. Everest either. Not too far for healthy people to walk, and it is a romp in the park for those of us who run marathons. We will not be running this ten miles, but walking and singing and talking and learning all the way. Our hopes for this day full of walking are many. We hope to learn in our feet and knees, our muscle memory as well as our brains, how close and connected we are, from suburb to city, one neighborhood to the next. We hope to worship with our brothers and sisters in faith from other congregations, and to join them in prayers of thanksgiving and intercession for their neighbors and neighborhoods. We hope to celebrate this one living strand among the many that make up the connectional church. We hope that while we walk we will be the presence of the church along each step of the sometimes desolate road in between. We hope to be seen by strangers and asked why we are walking, and to answer, “We are the church from a different neighborhood, come to witness the work of God going on in your neighborhood.” We hope to be enough of a crowd to draw city-wide attention to each church and to the church universal, as a body that cares about all the people in our larger community. We hope to be wearing thick enough socks and to be walking in beautiful April weather! We hope to meet new brothers and sisters in Christ, and to get to know our own fellow members along the road. Meet us that morning and be ready for a great new adventure in faith! • Does it cost money? No, but there will be an offering along the way, as there is in our regular worship service.
F.A.Q.
• How will we get home? The train, of course! You are welcome to arrange a ride home by other means, but the train runs almost exactly along the route of the walk and costs only $6 one way.
• Can I walk only part of the way? Sure! You are welcome to join us for any segment of the walk, and for as many or as few segments as you wish. You can keep in touch with walkers by cell phone if you want to meet us somewhere along the way. • Will there be a sermon? Possibly (although the experience itself is a sermon), but if so, it will be the shortest one you’ve ever heard! • How long will the whole thing take? We estimate around 5 ½ hours. That would give us a not-too-fast pace with the stops for worship and other necessities along the way. • What’s for lunch? Bring a sandwich or a little cash—food court right next to Arch Street Presbyterian • I’m not really able to walk very far. Are there other ways I can participate? Absolutely! Check out the BMPC website for a list of possibilities. 11 MESSENGER | Lent/Easter 2015
BMPC Outreach Grants at Work by Carol Schmidt
The Build-it-Bus project, working with West Philadelphia Alliance for Children, received a 2014 grant from the West Philadelphia sub-committee of Outreach Council. We received the following thank-you note describing the project, which enabled West Philadelphia high school students to build four portable “Little Free Libraries.”
Dear BM PC, Our ten weeks of making little librarie s at West Philadelphia High School are completed! We finish ed one library and will finish the three others in Januar y. All we need to do on the three is to attach the doors. We plan to place them in four parks near the school, and have a ribbon cutting, on Dr. Suess’ birt hday. We will also finish four wooden benches to go wit h the libraries. The students couldn’t have been more wonderful: hard working, kind, friendly, collaborative , etc, etc. I’m attaching photos of them and of the libraries. We couldn’t have done it without you guys - your generous grant. Thank you, thank you . Sherina Poorman Director, Build-it- Bus
Join the Fight Against Hunger By David Hastings
We know that we are called to help others in some way with our time, talent and treasure. This has never been so true as in the fight against hunger. Hunger ravages our society’s most vulnerable members: children, the elderly and the poverty stricken. The Philadelphia area is especially hard hit with some of the most impoverished and hungry neighborhoods in the country. The Hunger Committee at BMPC has a long tradition of leading the fight against hunger. Throughout the years, it has organized our outreach and commitment to this worthy cause and inspired and managed our congregation’s generous support. The committee is made up of dedicated and passionate members who work hard at making a difference in the lives of others and upholding our church’s mission of outreach to those in need. Through our casserole blitzes, direct financial support, and our volunteer time at the 22 local food cupboards and agencies we support, our committee members are front and center in this fight. To support these efforts, we need new members for our team! Please consider volunteering your time and talent to add energy to our work. There are many opportunities to help! We meet on the third Thursday of the month at 7:00 p.m. in the Ministries Center and urge you to consider joining us for a most rewarding journey. Contact: Dave Hastings, Chair, dhast99@yahoo.com. 12 MESSENGER | Lent/Easter 2015
Children and the Season By the Rev. Rachel Pedersen
During this season of Lent, join Children and Family Ministry as we follow Jesus to Jerusalem. We will listen to Jesus as he calls the disciples, teaches the people, feeds the hungry, heals the sick, welcomes the children, and forgives. We’ll follow him to the gates of Jerusalem and help welcome him to worship on Palm Sunday. On Good Friday, we will remember all the events of Holy Week. On Sunday School During Lent Easter Sunday, we will follow the women to the garden and Following Jesus to Jerusalem. Each week greet the Risen Lord. We can’t wait to see you along the way. we will follow in Jesus’ footsteps and learn about the following:
Upcoming Events Family Ash Wednesday Service, Feb. 18, 5:30 p.m. in the Chapel with dinner to follow. This service is especially designed for children and their families to begin their Lenten Journey.
Feb 22 - Jesus Calls Disciples March 1 - Jesus Teaches March 8 - Jesus Heals March 15 - Jesus Welcomes March 22 - Jesus Forgives March 29 - Jesus Enters Jerusalem
Palm Sunday (March 29) Brunch and Palm Processional. The day starts with a special brunch and service projects in Congregational Hall, and culminates as we lead the Palm Sunday processional at the 10:00 worship service. Good Friday (April 3), The Story of Holy Week for Children. Come listen and help retell the story of Holy Week. Stop in the church anytime between 3:00-5:00 p.m. and Pastor Rachel will help you walk through the story of Jesus’ ministry. Easter (April 5) Sunrise Service on the Lawn, 6:30 a.m. Come as you are to greet the Risen Lord! This inter-generational service is designed so worshipers of every age can celebrate Easter together.
Sunday School News Flash: Did you know that our 1st Grade Sunday School Class decided to use its classroom offering to purchase a Water Buffalo through Heifer International? When they realized they were almost $200 short, instead of giving up, they got creative! Before the New Year, the 1st Grade Class had collected over $300.00!
Save the Date!
Vacation Bible Camp, June 22-26
Join us for a week where students age 3- rising 5th graders grow in God’s love, serve neighbors, and build a community together. Planning is underway for an exciting week. Interested in participating or helping? Contact: MaryRichards@bmpc.org, ext. 8811. 13 MESSENGER | Lent/Easter 2015
Summer Fun: Just Ahead!
Camp Kirkwood By Graham Small
Every summer, BMPC Youth Ministry does something very special. For one week in August, students go to the Poconos to spend time with one another, with our counselors, and with God. Camp, as we call it, is the highlight of the yearly youth calendar. Personally, my family has planned around it for the past eight years so that my sister and I may attend, even as summers are progressively becoming shorter and other activities start to fill the days. The experiences we have had at Camp, however, were too important to miss. Regardless of age, school, or walk of life, students come together in fellowship and Christ. Technology is minimal at camp, forcing students to communicate face to face. We are able to talk about our faith with one another in a way we never could with our day-to-day friends. These conversations become the foundation for friendships that last decades, as we see in our counselors, many of whom were former campers and are still close with their Camp friends. The counselors, however, are who really made camp special for me. As a middle school camper, counselors would reinforce that who God wants me to be is far more important than what my peers or culture say I should be. Moving into high school, counselors give students more space, and give advice about making good decisions. As a senior this past year, I experienced the pinnacle of the counselor-camper relationship. As our group of seniors had matured, we had even deeper bonds with our adult leaders and freedom to explore our faith. We had to earn this privilege by following rules and setting a positive example for younger campers, but in doing so, we earned not only space but also respect. We had learned the lesson that Camp works so hard to teach: helping and supporting the community we live in is far more important than aiding only ourselves. If you have never been to camp, as camper or counselor, maybe this is your year!
Registration now open!
High School Mission Trip to the Dominican Republic: July 4-10 Middle School Urban Plunge to New York City: July 26-31 Camp Kirkwood: August 9-15 Search “summer camp� at www.bmpc.org or contact AmyBauer@bmpc.org, ext. 8821. 14 MESSENGER | Lent/Easter 2015
The Messenger Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church 625 Montgomery Avenue Bryn Mawr, PA 19010 610-525-2821 The Messenger (USPS #341840) Volume #117, 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
Resurrection Window, East Transept
Help BMPC “Go Green” Instead of receiving a mailed copy of The Messenger, you now may “opt-in” to receive it electronically. Enter your email address and name in the form found at www.bmpc.org/news-media/ publications/the-messenger and hit the “submit” button or email JaneWilber@bmpc.org, and we’ll be sure to change your preference for receiving this publication. Thank you in advance for helping us to “go green” by using less paper!