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Ordinary Time
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Letter from the Pastor After the comings and goings of summer I love regathering in the fall, catching up with friends, kicking off a new program year, and quickening the pace again as we live as fully as we can into our calling as disciples of Jesus Christ. On top of all the usual things we anticipate recommencing – a new year in Christian education, renewed energy for mission and outreach involvements, Wednesday night suppers, and a crisp hint in the air of the season changing, we have one great big new thing to celebrate this year! Over the next few months we will celebrate the promising opportunities that This Time, This Place, the Campaign for Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church has in store. With BMPC’s 150th anniversary on the horizon in 2023, many people have been thinking strategically about how to renovate and revitalize our church campus to better suit our current and future ministry needs. From the Education Building to the Ministries Center, we have prioritized making our facilities more welcoming, more accessible, easier to navigate and better suited to gathering together in groups large and small. We are now poised to give every church member the opportunity to learn more and to participate in fulfilling a very exciting vision for the future. On Rally Day, Sept. 9, we will have our traditional picnic lunch on the lawn with information about our various fall activities and mission opportunities. In addition, we will offer tours of the buildings, architectural renderings of recommended changes, and the screening of our This Time, This Place video that shares both the need for and the vision of the campaign. So as you prepare to regather for a new program year, to reconnect with church friends, welcome newcomers and visitors, and enjoy the beginning of the church’s fall season, please also take advantage of learning about this historic initiative and how you can be involved!
Grace and Peace,
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Welcome New Staff Members
The Rev. Dr. Andrew H. Mann Jr., Interim Associate Pastor for Pastoral Care & Senior Adults The Session is pleased to announce the hiring of the Rev. Dr. Andrew H. Mann Jr. to serve as our Interim Associate Pastor for Pastoral Care & Senior Adults; he will be formally introduced during worship on Rally Day, Sept. 9. Drew describes himself as a child of the Philadelphia Presbytery, having grown up in this area. A graduate of Bucknell University, he received a Master’s of Divinity from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Ministry from McCormick Seminary. Drew has experience serving large churches in Endicott, New York, and Arlington, Virginia, and smaller congregations in the Philadelphia area. He earned a certificate in Interim Training from Princeton Seminary and most recently served as interim transitional pastor at Overbrook Presbyterian Church. The interim search committee, which was made up of representatives from Deacons, Senior Adult Council and Personnel Committee, found Drew to be deeply engaging, biblically grounded, and a compassionate presence with a heart for pastoral care, senior adults and congregational life. His references were glowing and spoke of his deep personal faith, his warmth and humor, his caring spirit, his fine gifts for preaching and teaching, as well as his wealth of church experience. Drew’s wife, Meg, is also a retired Presbyterian pastor, and they have a daughter, Ryan, who lives in Rosemont. Drew enjoys reading classics and mysteries, likes to garden and cook, and loves movies. After honoring their family tradition of spending the month of August in a cabin on a lake in Weld, Maine, Drew looks forward to beginning his work at BMPC.
Mariah Ervin, Assistant, Sunday School
Mariah has almost seven years of experience working with children and their families. Previously, Mariah taught at a preschool in Wallingford. She attended Delaware County Community College where she received an associate’s degree in early childhood education. Mariah then earned a bachelor’s degree in Children and Family Ministries at Lancaster Bible College. She lives in Ridley Park and enjoys spending time with her many nieces and nephews. Mariah loves exploring the outdoors with her boyfriend and relaxing with a good book. She is extremely happy anticipating this new season in her life and being part of the BMPC family.
Cheryl Ferry, Assistant, Receivables & Stewardship
Cheryl has more than 15 years of office administration and bookkeeping experience. She was most recently the pricing operator for a travel agency serving senior citizen groups and church organizations. Prior to that, Cheryl served as parish administrator at St. Mark Lutheran Church in Clifton Heights. In this role she provided support to the pastor, council members, congregation and church ministries. She maintained communications, created communications materials, and provided bookkeeping for both St. Mark Church and St. Mark Christian School. Cheryl lives in Delaware County and is a member of St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Springfield. She loves spending time with her children and dog. Cheryl is excited and blessed to be part of the Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church staff. 3 MESSENGER | Ordinary Time 2018
Welcome to Our New Members
Robert & Meredith Good Bryn Mawr
Andrew & Carol Reid Haverford
Dorothy Kwock Spring City
Maria Wolf Ardmore
Stephen & Rosaline Osei-Akoto Bryn Mawr
Jennifer Young Havertown
New members who joined June 10,. Not pictured: Thomas & Megan Duncan and Thoman & Jaclyn Groenen.
Don’t Miss our Rally Day Celebration By Angie BAturka
On Sunday, Sept. 9, we are kicking off another program year of our church with Rally Day. This day gives us the chance to come together as a church family to learn about programs the various ministry areas of our church have planned, and equally important, it’s a time to catch up with one another after the summer vacation season. There will be plenty of food and entertainment for the entire family following our 10:00 a.m. worship service — face painting, magicians, balloon animals and gigantic bubbles should keep everyone delighted throughout the event! I look forward to this celebration every year for all the obvious reasons, but my favorite one is a bit less obvious. I taught Sunday School for many years, so seeing the children and marveling at how much each one has grown is my favorite part of the festivities. I can’t tell you how my heart swells when I see our beautiful, suntanned children enjoying themselves, faces fully painted and grabbing too many treats on this special day! I love hearing how their summers were spent and what they are looking forward to in their upcoming school year. Come out and reconnect with members, both young and mature. You will be glad you did!
New This Year: Family Potluck Dinner
New to this year’s church activities, we will be having a Churchwide Harvest Festival Family Potluck on Friday, Oct. 19. This event organically grew out of a brainstorming meeting where those involved were longing for simpler times of old-fashioned church potlucks. The church will be providing ham and mashed potatoes and we will be looking for side dishes and desserts from the congregation. Think about what recipe you would like to share with your church family. Following our meal, we will be having an intergenerational square dance in the gym. This event is open to all ages and is sure to be a crowd pleaser! 4 MESSENGER | Ordinary Time 2018
Feeding the Mind, Body and the Hungry By Marian Chitester
So many ways exist for people to share their time, treasures, and talents in support of the many missions at BMPC, and church member Karen Gagnier has been doing so in a very creative way. At the urging of a friend 18 years ago, Karen began practicing yoga. She found, as many others do, that it offered deep relaxation, improved flexibility and strength, and an elevated understanding of oneself. Then, after being diagnosed with cancer, yoga helped her gain a greater ability to cope and recover during and after treatments. Karen knew this was an experience and benefit she wanted to share, so she made yoga a part of her “new normal� post-cancer plan for life. She enrolled in a 200-hour training program for yoga instructors, and over the past 10 years, Karen has offered a weekly mixed-level yoga class at BMPC. This class, which takes place in the Ministries Center gym every Tuesday at 9:00 a.m., is free and open to people of all ages, levels and interests. Participants, ranging from beginner to experienced yogis, leave the class each week benefiting greatly from the skills of this dedicated and compassionate instructor. Karen gives of herself freely, and she has never charged a fee for any class she has taught at BMPC over the years. Attendees have the option of making a free-will offering, which Karen then donates to the BMPC Hunger Program. Having participated in the monthly casserole making project, she knew her contributions would go directly toward feeding the hungriest individuals and families in the Philadelphia area. To date, Karen has donated more than $30,000 from class contributions. In addition to teaching yoga at BMPC, this very busy and generous person (who is married and the mother of four children) also underwent additional training in order to teach yoga to cancer survivors. Her most recent 300-hour training has led her to achieve a yoga therapy certification. In addition to teaching cancer survivors, she has expanded her teaching to include yoga lessons for traumatized girls at theVillage in Rosemont. During the summer, Karen teaches yoga to underserved populations in Nantucket, Massachusetts. She offers various workshops where a therapist also outlines the benefits of yoga in treating anxiety and trauma. Yoga classes at BMPC are held Tuesdays at 9:00 a.m. in the gym. The classes are open to all, and no registration is necessary.
For the past 10 years Karen Gagnier has not charged a fee for the weekly yoga classes she leads at BMPC. Instead, Karen gives participants the option of making a free-will offering which she donates to our Hunger Program. To date, she has donated more than $30,000 to support BMPC hunger initiatives.
Save the Date
For more than 25 years, our Advent Gift Market has provided opportunities to give alternative gifts to help others. The kickoff begins Sunday, Nov. 18, following the 10:00 a.m. worship service. 5 MESSENGER | Ordinary Time 2018
An Invitation from Choral Opportunities our Sanctuary for Children, Youth, Choir President and Their Families By Lawana Scales
By Edward Landin
I am so thrilled the BMPC Sanctuary Choir asked me to be their new president. I joined the choir even before I joined the church back in 2010. I discovered the Sanctuary Choir was not just an organization of singers and musicians, but a family of people who not only appreciate the joyous harmony of music, but the harmony and fellowship of one another. Singing for the congregation and sharing our time during each service enriches our lives. I’m sure there are others in our church who not only appreciate music but can carry a tune and are willing to share their talents if asked to join our musical family. We are asking and would love to have you join us! We’re all here to glorify God first, so don’t be shy. We will help you every step of the way. Just like all families, kids grow up and leave the nest. Don’t let our Sanctuary Choir become an empty nester. Instead, let’s have a full house with great music and fellowship. To schedule a vocal interview with Jeff Brillhart, contact StephanieSpeakman@bmpc.org. Hope to see you soon.
As you think about what activities your children and family are going to participate in this coming program year, I invite you to think about choir being one of those commitments. BMPC has numerous choral offerings for various ages and stages, and I welcome this opportunity to invite you to make the commitment as it fits into your busy and everchanging schedules. If your child is only able to sing through the Christmas season, we welcome his or her voice. If you (as a parent!) want to join a Family Choir and sing with your children, you are welcome. If your teenager is busy with fall sports but wants to sing in choir for Youth Sunday in February, he or she is most certainly welcome to participate. There’s a theme here… all are welcome! We all know how tough scheduling can be these days. As the parent of toddler twins, trust me, I get it! Please reach out to me with any questions at EdwardLandin@ bmpc.org. I look forward to making music together.
Save the Date
BMPC is pleased to welcome The Philadelphia Brass for a concert on Sun., Oct. 28 at 2:00 p.m. This concert, featuring our own organists, Jeffrey Brillhart and Edward Landin, will showcase the awesome combination of our Rieger organ played with one of the greatest brass ensembles in America. Tickets: $10 for adults; $5 for students with ID. 6 MESSENGER | Ordinary Time 2018
Building Relationships Through Service
Why do we serve? Often we volunteer because we want to be helpful, and most of the time we are. But as a community of faith we also give our time in service because it provides the opportunity to build relationships - relationships with our partners in mission AND with one another. As the BMPC Mission Council led almost 100 members of our congregation through a service and learning series with Broad Street Ministry last year, the theme of building relationships bubbled up again and again as one of our highest values in how and why we do “mission” as a congregation. This September we have the opportunity to serve together and build relationships in partnership with two of our most committed mission partners in Philadelphia: West Philadelphia Alliance for Children (WePac) – Sat., Sept. 22, 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. at Harrington Elementary School, 5300 Baltimore Ave., Philadelphia WePAC is working this summer and fall to open its 14th library in Philadelphia public schools, and we have the opportunity to participate in one of the final workdays this fall to get the library at Harrington Elementary School up and running. Tasks include cataloging books and helping with general set up of the library space. Families are also encouraged to volunteer together! Dinner at the Hub of Hope - a partnership between Project HOME and Broad Street Ministry on Sun., Sept. 30, 3:00 - 6:30 p.m. in Suburban Station, Philadelphia Through a historic partnership between Project HOME, Broad Street Ministry and SEPTA this past year, a permanent center has been created in Suburban Station for those experiencing homelessness. The Hub of Hope provides a safe place to enjoy a warm cup of coffee, take a shower, and wash laundry as well as speak with peers or case managers to begin the process of finding a permanent home. The center creates even greater opportunities to connect individuals experiencing homelessness with treatment programs, medical care and ultimately stable, supportive housing. We will travel together by train to Suburban Station to serve the Sunday evening meal, offering the same gift of hospitality and welcome that is practiced at Broad Street Ministry. This service opportunity is open to middle schoolers through adults. Registration is required for these service projects. To sign up, contact CarolSchmidt@bmpc.org.
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This Time, This Place What does the name Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church evoke for you? Perhaps special times growing up with friends from church and going to Camp Kirkwood in the summer. The marriage of a daughter or son in the Chapel. Magical moments making music with fellow choir members. A special sermon from Agnes that seemed to speak directly to you when you needed it most. Working with other church members to make casseroles for those in need or to tutor children who come from an impoverished area in Philadelphia. The list could go on and on because BMPC is a place where so many significant memories are evoked for members of this church. We want to ensure that these types of meaningful moments can be experienced by generations to come. With that in mind, we are announcing This Time, This Place, the Campaign for Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church. This Time, This Place. As our church approaches its 150th anniversary, we ask our community to collectively pause and ponder our distinguished history and bright
future. For the past five years, leaders from all areas of our church family have assessed our church home and dreamed of what a sufficient and intentional campus would mean for our congregation. Building on our legacy and reaching into our future, we have launched a historic campaign to make these dreams a reality. Our collective dreaming amounted to an aspirational goal of $25 million, and we currently are pursuing an initial target of $17.5 million. Through this campaign we hope to comprehensively integrate our community spaces and assets, plan for the future and intentionally address our needs, and expand our hands-on mission and outreach work locally and globally. Our Campaign, Our Impact. The mission component of the capital campaign has been set by Session as a 10% tithe of the total money raised. As part of our capital campaign planning, the BMPC Mission Council spent the 2017-18 program year exploring mission and outreach at BMPC to better understand and define the congregation’s mission priorities.
These early renderings show the potential for reimagined spaces in the Education Building.
Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church – Education Building Typical Classroom - June 06,2018
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Our yearlong work revealed the following anchor points, which will become a guide for how we foresee mission projects that spring forth from This Time, This Place funding. • Our community values the opportunity to make a difference through local, hands-on outreach that includes opportunities for us to work side by side with those in need. • We want to foster and support our youth by ensuring that all who want to participate in our mission activities, including mission trips out of our area, can do so. • BMPC is proud of the impact we can make with long-term partners, new and old, and look forward to being able to reinforce this by making transformational grants to worthy organizations in connection with our church’s 150th anniversary in 2023.
Our Time, Our Church. The heart of our campaign is rooted in the Education Building, where renovations will begin next summer, but its scale and goals will encompass all areas of our church. From Fishers Road to Radnor Street, we hope to transform our campus into a sanctuary for all, by improving access and the welcoming nature of key community spaces. The three main pillars of our This Time, This Place campaign are: Campus Revitalization, Mission & Outreach, and a Campus Preservation Fund. You will be hearing more about each pillar in the months to come. Rally Day (Sept. 9) will be not only the church’s kickoff for the new program year but also the public launch of our This Time, This Place campaign. We invite all members of our community to join us on a tour of the Education Building after worship services on that Sunday. We will be screening our campaign video and sharing renderings and models of our new community spaces. We look forward to seeing you there.
Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church – Education Building New First Floor Lounge - June 06,2018
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BMPC Hosts the Rev. Dr. M. Craig Barnes
as our David & Ruth Watermulder Theologian-in-Residence Each year, in honor of the leadership of David and Ruth Watermulder, our Adult Education Committee invites a scholar of excellence to share his/her work and passion with our greater community. This year, we are especially delighted to welcome the Rev. Dr. Craig Barnes, President of Princeton Theological Seminary, to be with us during the weekend of Oct. 13-14. Craig was raised on Long Island, New York. After graduating from The King’s College and Princeton Theological Seminary, he received a Ph.D. in the History of Christianity from The University of Chicago. He has served as a pastor to three congregations including The National Presbyterian Church in Washington, D.C. In the fall of 2002, he became the Meneilly Professor of Pastoral Ministry at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary while also serving as the Senior Pastor of Shadyside Presbyterian Church. In 2012 he was elected president of Princeton Seminary. He has written eight books including Searching for Home, The Pastor as Minor Poet, and Body and Soul. He also serves as an editor-at-large and frequent contributor to The Christian Century. This year’s programs will include a Saturday morning breakfast and lecture as well as a lecture following worship on Sunday morning, Oct. 14, with Craig focusing on how we live as people of faith rooted in our history and in ways that are relevant to the world around us. For more information about our Theologian-inResidence programs, contact CarolSchmidt@bmpc.org.
Saturday, Oct. 13
Sunday, Oct. 14
9:30 a.m. Light brunch 10:00 a.m. Lecture and Conversation On Earth as it Is in Heaven: A survey of the last hundred years of American church history reveals a connection between the popular theology about heaven and our understanding of home, identity, and mission in life. In the last two generations, however, there has been very little interest in heaven, which has changed the way we discern who we are and how we should live.
10:00 a.m. Worship in the Sanctuary; Dr. Barnes will preach. 11:15 a.m. Lecture and Conversation The Temptation to Be Less Than Human: According to Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus experienced his three temptations in the desert immediately after he identified with humanity in his baptism. These temptations reveal three of the most prevalent ways we lose our humanity. Jesus’ response to each of them reveals the way we can resist the temptation to be less than human.
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Diversity Task Force Moves Forward Exciting possibilities are afoot for our congregation as members identify and probe areas of interest in relation to diversity. How did this all come about? On April 29, more than 100 people gathered in Congregational Hall for a workshop with Waking Up White author Debby Irving. While addressing the book's subtitle, I’m a good person; Isn’t that enough? she shared lesser known historical facts, including the Black Wall Street massacre in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and the limited African-American veteran benefits from the World War II GI bill because of Jim Crow policies in Southern states. After the workshop, many asked, “Where do we go from here?” In response, members met with the Rev. Rebecca Kirkpatrick to brainstorm possibilities, naming areas of interest including educationand programming, advocacy work and relationship building. After the July 22 worship service, a group of 35 members gathered to learn more about the potential activities of this newly-formed Diversity Task Force.
Attendees shared their thoughts, including the possibility of organizing multi-congregation service events; fulfilling our Christian mission; partnering with outside groups such as POWERMetro and NewCORE; and providing educational resources to the BMPC community. Fall events already in place include the Pastor’s Book Group on Wednesday, Nov. 7, featuring the Rev. David Smith and several youth who will lead a conversation on the bestselling young adult novel The Hate You Give. On Sun., Oct. 28 at 11:15 a.m., Dr. F. David Bronkema, interim dean of Palmer Theological Seminary at Eastern University, will talk about how race and diversity impact international mission work. On Wed., Jan. 23, 2019 at 7:00 p.m., author David Billings will discuss his book, Deep Denial: The Persistence of White Supremacy in United States History and Life. Stay tuned for more diversity-related events this fall. If you would like to be included on the diversity task force email list, send your name to RebeccaKirkpatrick@bmpc.org.
Pastor’s Book Group Wed., Nov. 7, 6:30 p.m., Witherspoon Parlor
Join the Rev. David Smith, Interim Associate Pastor for Youth Ministry, as he leads us in a discussion of the recent bestselling young adult novel The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. This novel tells the story of a young African-American woman navigating the worlds of her family and friends and as a student in a primarily white suburban private school. Dealing with issues of police violence, code switching, and economic inequality, Publishers Weekly writes, “Though Thomas’ story is heartbreakingly topical, its greatest strength is in its authentic depiction of a teenage girl, her loving family, and her attempts to reconcile what she knows to be true about their lives with the way those lives are depicted — and completely undervalued — by society at large.” BMPC youth read and discussed The Hate U Give this past spring and will join Pastor David in leading this conversation that is open to all members of our congregation. Books are $12 and available for purchase from the BMPC Book Center. 11 MESSENGER | Ordinary Time 2018
Christian Formation Summit
by the Rev. David B. Smith
The spring of 2017 marked the beginning of a formative season for BMPC’s youth ministry. Since that time, we have been on a mission to identify strengths and smooth growing edges. In partnership with Ministry Architects, a well known church consulting firm, we have charted a new vision for the formation of young disciples. The Youth Ministry Council is excited to launch the final phase of our “renovation” project by announcing a Christian Formation Summit, which will take place on Sat., Sept. 29 from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in Witherspoon Parlor. The summit provides key constituents with an opportunity to develop clear goals and establish milestones that will shape the faith of young people for years to come. We will ask bold questions, listen to the hopes and expectations of our youth, and explore new avenues for encountering the gospel together. BMPC’s long history of transformative youth work serves as a constant reminder of our commitment to raising followers of Jesus in every generation. The story of our life together also teaches us that short-term gains must be prayerfully and faithfully channeled to ensure long-term sustainability. Hard work and diligence will be our faithful companions on the final leg of this journey, but the view from the peak will confirm the worthwhile nature of our trek.
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Apply for a Toren Grant
During her life May Toren was an active member at BMPC and was especially active in the work of Presbyterian Women. May loved building community and found ways to welcome women to the church, support new leaders, and encourage deep friendships. When May died in 2016, she provided PW with a generous bequest that continues to support the ministry and work of Presbyterian Women. In particular, these funds allow Presbyterian Women to imagine new possibilities and new ministries to support women in our church. We hope that you will help us! You are invited to apply for a Toren Grant. These grants will be offered to help create new events, programs and projects that will bring women together and build community at BMPC. Grants will help cover the cost of the program and will typically be awarded in amounts of around $500. All applications must be received at least three months before a program so there is ample time for review. Applications are available on the PW webpage and at the PW kiosk in the Ministries Center.
Pray for our Students
We promise to guide and nurture the children and youth in our congregation in word and deed. As the school year begins, our students are rushing between activities, academic expectations, and new friendships. Each child is facing exciting opportunities as well as unique challenges. They need to know that as a church we share their joys and their sorrows. One way we can let students know about our care is to pray with and for them. Will you consider including the children, youth, and teachers of our church in your prayers? On Tues., Sept. 4 from 8:00-10:00 a.m., you are invited to pray for all of our students. We will gather in the Chapel and pray for all of our local schools as well as for each child, youth, and college student in our congregation. If you are unable to join us in the chapel, we will send you a list of students to pray for. Please contact RachelPedersen@bmpc.org if you would like to participate.
Community Forum Distinguished Speaker Series
Bryn Mawr Gives Stewardship 2019
As we prepare for another exciting program year in the life of our congregation, and we look ahead to what the future holds with the renovations of our campus with This Time, This Place, the Campaign for Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church, we are also invited to continue our annual commitments to the church. This year, the Stewardship Committee is encouraging you to consider your pledge for 2019. Recognizing today’s changing paradigms in religious giving, we know that congregants everywhere are pulled in many directions as to where to share their generosity. And we are so grateful that our congregation continues to give faithfully to this community. Yet pledging is different than just giving a general offering in the fact that it is a promise to be faithful in time, talents, and treasure to contribute to what God is doing here. You will have an opportunity in the coming months to fill out a pledge card, and make a commitment of some kind to be connected to the life of our church. Even if you are unable to make a financial commitment this year, we invite you to fill out the pledge card and check “promise to pray for the church.” We would love to see a higher participation in our returned pledge cards. Faithfulness takes many forms, but it always calls for commitment. By committing to the good work of Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church, you partner with us in our call to be Christ’s hands and feet to the world. Dedication Sunday is Oct. 28, and we hope you’ll consider making a pledge and joining us in dedicating these gifts to the glory of God!
Mon., Oct. 8 at 7:00 p.m.
We are pleased to welcome Brooke Gladstone to the Sanctuary as part of the BMPC Community Forum Distinguished Speaker Series. Gladstone, co-host and managing editor of WNYC’s “On the Media,” is a longtime media analyst and an expert on trends in the press. Her work has earned her numerous accolades, including two Peabody Awards, the National Press Club Award and the Overseas Press Club Award. Her most recent book “The Trouble with Reality” addresses the opposing reactions of euphoria and despair experienced in the United States with the election of President Donald Trump. She notes that the Trump election reflected a “smash-up of realities,” and has left many wondering what values, if any, we share as a country. A description of her most recent book, “The Trouble with Reality,” notes that Gladstone makes “insightful, unexpected connections to help us understand what she calls — and what so many of us can acknowledge having — ‘trouble with reality.’” According to Gladstone, reality is never what we think it is – “there is always a bubble, people are always subjective and prey to stereotypes. And that makes reality actually more vulnerable than we ever thought.” The forums are free and open to the public. The format is a 45-minute presentation followed by a time for questions. For more information, contact Elena Perri at ElenaPerri@bmpc.org.
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Peace and Global Witness Offering September 30 and October 7
Now may the Lord of peace...give you peace at all times in all ways. - 2 Thessalonians 3:16 Sometimes it feels the world is coming at us so quickly that we don’t know which way to turn, where to look, or what to do next. In this chaotic world, we find strength in knowing that God is always near. We are joined in the Apostle Paul’s prayer that God grant us “peace at all times, in all ways.” Peace. For our world, our family, our community, our church and ourselves — "peace at all times, in all ways." When the peace treaty was signed between Egypt and Israel in 1979, President Jimmy Carter quoted the journalist Walker Knight, saying “peace is active, not passive; peace is doing, not waiting ... peace, like war, is waged.” The Peace & Global Witness Offering of the Presbyterian Church(USA) helps provide the tools and resources for us as we join together as active peacemakers. The Peace & Global Witness Offering draws Presbyterians together and provides education and exposure to those who show us how to do this work well. It allows us to create resources for dealing with conflict and nurturing reconciliation and standing in support of our global sisters and brothers, because the peace of Christ belongs to people everywhere. It has helped support our church partners in Madagascar to recover from years of destructive development. Scriptural resources helped congregations like the one in Old Bergen, New Jersey, find common 14 MESSENGER | Ordinary Time 2018
ground with neighbors of many faiths, bringing their children together to learn from one another and to build a peaceful future. And the whole church joins together, through this offering, to work for an end to all forms of human trafficking, specifically, the sin of child soldiers. As we work to share Christ’s peace with one another, let’s share that peace with those beyond our doors. Twenty-five percent of this offering will go to our Presbytery and Synod, joining with other congregations in our area to support peacemaking work in our region. A second 25 percent of this offering stays here at Bryn Mawr, to be used by our own Peacemaking Committee in its work related to gun violence in Greater Philadelphia, and other local efforts toward building up our communities. Fifty percent of this offering supports the active work for peace being done by Presbyterians everywhere. As Presbyterians, we claim Jesus Christ as Prince of Peace and pattern our lives in the compassion, kindness and grace that he shows us. Donations may be made to the Peace and Global Witness Offering on Sundays, Sept. 30 and Oct. 7, using the envelopes in the pew racks, or checks may be sent directly to the church with “Peace and Global Witness Offering” noted on the check. For more information, contact Phoebe Sheftel, pasheftel@gmail.com.
Beauty of Flowers Extends Beyond Sanctuary
Have you ever wondered who arranges the beautiful flowers in the Sanctuary each Sunday? You might assume the flowers are delivered on Saturday, placed in the Sanctuary, and then whisked away by facilities staff members after the 10:00 a.m. service. The reality is the beautiful bouquets we see on either side of the cross in church are just a small hint to a larger story of how we as a church use the beauty of living color, not only to express the grateful memories of a lost loved one, but also to send forth our joyful caring to members of our congregation who are unable to travel to church on Sunday mornings. The flowers you see on Sunday mornings typically don’t come from a florist shop; they are arranged by BMPC member Linda Madara. Linda, who has been arranging flowers in the Sanctuary for almost 25 years, has the floral materials delivered to her home. She brings the materials to the church and assembles the floral arrangements, ensuring they are beautifully balanced.
Deacon Flower Ministry
After every 10:00 a.m. service, the Sanctuary flower arrangements are brought into the Ministries Center where they are disassembled and made into smaller arrangements for Deacons to deliver to BMPC members who are homebound or hospitalized. They also bring poinsettias and lilies to homebound members at Christmas and Easter. “We have 20 volunteers who create the smaller arrangements to be delivered by the Deacons,” Margo Bennett said. “Many times I hear how delighted the recipient is to be recognized by the delivery and a short visit. We need more ladies or men to create these floral bouquets as some of us are aging out in the next few years.” “The Deacon flower ministry is an unsung ministry,” Linda adds. “The expression on the faces of those receiving the flowers unexpectedly is heartwarming and often brings a tear or two to both the deliverer and the recipient.” The Deacons and volunteers who make the small arrangements carry out our flower mission beyond the Sanctuary. The Flower Committee and a host of volunteers organize the installation of poinsettias and greens that beautify the Sanctuary during Advent and on Christmas Eve. They also arrange the lilies and other spring blooms at Easter. It’s a exciting time when the Sanctuary is made glorious in the colors and scents of the seasons. There are more than 50 members of our congregation who help with creating and distributing flowers. Please consider volunteering your time around the holidays to help install Sanctuary displays or to help on Sundays with small flower arrangements. Watch for announcements in the bulletin.
The Flower Fund Needs Your Support The Sanctuary flowers and plantings in the Chapel Garden, the urns at the front and side church entrances, that are planted by Marnie Bowen, Mickey Cooper and Marge Kennedy, and the magnificent displays at Easter and Christmas, are under the direction of the BMPC flower committee and are paid for out of the Flower Fund. This fund is supported by memorial flower donations and general contributions. Memorial floral donations are made when a member wishes to acknowledge the memory of a loved one by sponsoring the flowers or part of the flowers on a Sunday. Throughout the year Doreen Petrovitch contacts previous donors and asks if they want to give again and who should arrange the flowers. If Linda Madara is chosen as the arranger, then the donor contacts her directly. If you would like to honor a loved one, contact Doreen at dkpetrovitch@gmail.com. Another way of supporting the Flower Fund is to give to the general fund before Easter and Christmas. Your donations to this fund make possible the magnificent displays at Easter and Christmas. Look for giving opportunities in the bulletin in March and November.
15 MESSENGER | Ordinary Time 2018
The Messenger Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church 625 Montgomery Avenue Bryn Mawr, PA 19010 610-525-2821 The Messenger (USPS #341840) Volume #121, Issue #4, 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
Save the Dates
Sept. 9: Sept. 12: Oct. 6: Oct. 7: Oct. 8: Oct. 13-14: Oct. 19:
Sunday School begins; Rally Day Festivities Wednesday Dinners Resume, 5:30-7:00 p.m. Children and Youth Choir Rehearsals begin Dementia Symposium, 8:30 a.m. Blessing of the Animals, 4:00 p.m. Community Forum – Brooke Gladstone, 7:00 p.m. Theologian-in-Residence – The Rev. Dr. M. Craig Barnes Churchwide Potluck Dinner, 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday Night Dinners Resume Wednesday, Sept. 12
Join us for fellowship and fresh-ingredient meals catered by Chef Ruth on Wednesdays from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. in Congregational Hall (food served until 6:45 p.m.) Reservations aren’t needed. Cost is $8 for adults and $5 for children/students. Menus are available at www.bmpc.org.
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