the
POST EASTER 2017
MESSENGER BRYN MAWR PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
VOLUME 119 | ISSUE 3
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Welcoming New Associate Pastors (page 3) Member Spotlight (page 5) Lebanon and Syria Centerspread (pages 8-9) Anton Armstrong and André Thomas Concert (page 13) 1 MESSENGER | Post Easter 2017
Letter from the Pastor This season from Eastertide through summertime covers a large expanse of time that is filled with activity for the church and our members. In the coming weeks and months many of us will be going and coming as these warmer, sunnier days bring about weddings, reunions, commencements, and travel for weekend getaways and longer vacations. Our members go and come, but our church’s ministry continues with worship, special gatherings for adults, Vacation Bible Camp for our children, mission trips and Camp Kirkwood for our youth. While we are a congregation on the move, we are so pleased to welcome two new Associate Pastors. Within this Messenger, you will find an enthusiastic welcome extended to Frank Pottorff, Associate Pastor for Congregational Life and Stewardship, and to Mary Steege, Associate Pastor for Pastoral Care and Senior Adults, by two lifelong BMPC members, Susie Thorkelson and Janney Ryan, who share the joy of serving on the Associate Pastor Nominating In his ministry area of Committee and of finding these amazingly qualified and Congregational Life, Frank gifted individuals to serve on our pastoral team.
Pottorff will be coordinating evangelism, member engagement, small groups and the stewardship of time, talent and treasure. Mary Steege will lead our congregation’s pastoral care, working with the Deacons, Senior Adult Council and Middleton Center.
Many others are asking, “”How may I participate in welcoming these new pastors?” I hope you will find ways to know them and invite them to know you. One of the greatest expressions of welcome is to introduce yourself, be yourself and give them more than a few opportunities to hear your name, as learning 2,400 names is a bit daunting.
In his ministry area of Congregational Life, Frank Pottorff will be coordinating evangelism, member engagement, small groups and the stewardship of time, talent and treasure. Mary Steege will lead our congregation’s pastoral care, working with the Deacons, Senior Adult Council and Middleton Center. If you feel called to either or both of their areas of ministry, let them know that your interests and gifts can be put to good use! Then you will be helping this exciting chapter of Christian witness, nurture and service as Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church unfold in dynamic ways with new pastoral leadership. Grace and Peace,
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APNC Members Welcome
New Associate Pastors By Janney Ryan and Susan Thorkelson
With great excitement, the Associate Pastor Nominating Committee (APNC) is proud to welcome Mary Steege and Frank Pottorff to the BMPC family. Mary will serve as our new Associate Pastor for Pastoral Care and Senior Adults beginning in May. Frank will assume the new position of Associate Pastor for Congregational Life and Stewardship in June. The APNC first met in February 2016. Under the steady hand of God, we began our journey as we organized our agenda and focused on the challenge ahead. We studied. We learned. We researched. We prayed. After months of reviewing personal information forms, referrals and recommendations, it became exceedingly clear that Mary and Frank were our unanimous choices. They are outstanding individuals - gifted, spiritual, grounded, experienced and well suited for BMPC. Mary comes to us from Racine, Wisconsin. She is not only a pastor, but also a licensed family therapist. Mary has served four churches, been a chaplain, and has extensive background in providing direct counseling care. She says, "I am eager to meet you -- to share this journey of faith as together we heal, grow, and care for one another in the name
of Christ." Mary is mother to two adult children, Miranda and Matt. Frank Pottorff has served as pastor/head of staff at First Presbyterian Church, Mt. Sterling, Kentucky, for the past five years. Frank describes taking a solo pastor position directly out of seminary as "diving right into the deep end." He has had to wear "all the hats," from preaching to calling the plumber. Of his new position, Frank says, "I hope to help folks who find themselves at the edges of church life discover where they can become more enveloped by the Good News." Frank and his wife Abby are parents to twoyear-old Charlie. As lifelong members of BMPC, we have experienced an incredible joy to serve on the APNC. We are grateful to have worked so closely with such a dedicated and conscientious committee. Our hearts have been filled with love and thanksgiving on this journey of faith. Having been baptized, confirmed and married at BMPC, we and our families share a solid spiritual foundation. We love the strong history of our church, and we know that it will continue! Thank you for giving us the opportunity to serve. We thank God for the future ministries of Mary and Frank! 3 MESSENGER | Post Easter 2017
YOUTH SUMMER 2017
Welcome to Our New Members
MIDDLE SCHOOL MISSION PHILLY: BROAD STREET MINISTRY JULY 9 -13 Melanie Graham Bala Cynwyd
Kim Fazio Conshohocken
Brandon & Jenny Knox Villanova
Christie Hoyt Friedant Gladwyne
Donna Leonard Ardmore
Kelly Monahan Conshohocken
HIGH SCHOOL MISSION CROWN POINT, NM JULY 23 - 29 Sharon Wall Broomall
Sarah Morrow Warminster
HE OF T NAVAJ Keith Weaver, Pam Johnson, & GraceALWeaver O E S Gladwyne
N TIO NA
Paul Polichino & Renee Applegate Wynnewood
Kim Gallagher Havertown
GRE AT
Chad & Molly Arnold Ardmore
Would you like to know more about this church, our Reformed tradition, and our ministries? Our next BMPC orientation, “Gathering with the Pastors,” is on Sunday, June 4, the week before New Member Sunday, June 11. To register, contact DonnaBarrickman@bmpc.org, ext. 8809.
Ya’at’eeh means: It is good.
CAMP KIRKWOOD AUGUST 6-12, 2017 BMPC's summer camp for rising 6th - 11th graders.
To Register Online: www.bmpc.org> Calendar> Open Registrations
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Member Spotlight: The Brown Family By Donna Barrickman Allen and Pam Brown have worshiped with us since the early 1980s, and they joined BMPC in 1982 when daughter Lori was eight and son Darryl was five. “As parents, we assumed responsibility for the journey of our children’s faith. We were looking for a church with an enriched Bible study and Sunday School/programs for children,” Pam said. “Our warm welcome and tour offered by George Hollingshead convinced us that we had found a church home for our family.” Pam, who cherishes her strict Southern upbringing, enjoyed a career in the clothing and cosmetic industries and owned a linen shop in Bryn Mawr. She said her faith really came alive when “Dave Watermulder encouraged us to enroll in the Bethel (Bible) Series.” He then convinced Pam that she could teach, which led to two decades of fifth and sixth grade Sunday School as well as Confirmation. The lessons she wrestled with not only taught our youth about God’s vision and Christian values, but they strengthened her own faith. “Gene Bay’s influence also solidified my path,” she added, “and I was led to find Christ in a way I never would have discovered otherwise.” Allen, an orthodontist now treating his fourth generation of patients, also taught and was assistant chairman of orthodontics at Temple University’s School of Dentistry. Originally from Detroit, he says he has done “almost everything but give a sermon” at BMPC. Allen has been ordained as a deacon and an
elder; helped teach Sunday School; ushered; parked cars; and served communion - once all in one day. He laughs about the time he was chairman of communion and jokingly threatened to “make Jeff (Brillhart) and the choir sing the blues,” and how he used to transport the communion silver in his son’s wagon. Practical needs have always been his focus, whether serving with our hunger, homeless and peacemaking efforts, as a role model for students in the city, or as an advocate for free orthodontic care for young Medicaid patients. Their children, Lori and Darryl, were confirmed at BMPC and have fond memories of our choirs, classes, tutoring program and camps through the friends they made. Lori and her husband, Matt Ciprich, were married in our Sanctuary; he later joined and their three children were baptized here. Darryl, who reengaged as an adult by volunteering with “Helping Hands” on Sunday mornings, currently serves as a deacon. “It’s been outstanding connecting with both members I knew as a child and meeting new folks,” Darryl said. “I’ve always known how special the church is, but it’s meant a lot to me to continue to grow and serve, knowing that the little bit I can do to help others goes a long way.” When friends ask why they come to church - now all the way from Chester Springs - the family cites memories representing the “fun, laughter and spirit of community” that make them want to be here. “Worshiping regularly provides the food you need to nourish your faith,” Pam said, “and then you share God’s love beyond the church by serving others. It becomes a joy like no other happiness you will have in life… and an addiction!” 5 MESSENGER | Post Easter 2017
Eboo Patel Speaks at BMPC; Church Members Discuss Acts of Faith BMPC and the Interfaith Center of Greater Philadelphia collaborated to bring Eboo Patel, founder and president of Interfaith Youth Core and a leader in promoting interfaith cooperation, to speak at our church on March 7. In addition to his keynote address, Patel received the Dare to Understand Award from the Center. We also chose Patel’s book, Acts of Faith, for our One Book-One Church discussion. More than 100 church members read his book, and approximately 60 members participated in the discussion on April 2.
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BMPC Hunger Committee Helps Break Cycle of Hunger in Philadelphia Today, Philadelphia is the poorest, hungriest big city in the United States. The following statistics show the extent of the hunger problem in Philadelphia: • 37 percent of children live in poverty • 750,000 people go hungry • 10 percent live in deep poverty with incomes under $1,000 a month • 26 percent increase in need reported by Philabundance agencies • A significant shortage of food pantries to serve those in need Food insecurity means you have no assurance of the next meal. Once a person is affected, it is very hard to escape because it causes children to fail in school because of malnourishment, increases illness and head of house job instability. The BMPC Hunger Committee seeks to lead people out of the cycle of hunger with several efforts: • Distributing donations from the pew “Hunger Envelopes” to 22 local organizations which we continually evaluate and have found to serve the mission of stopping hunger • Hosting Casserole Blitzes to give adults and children opportunities for hands-on contributions to the fight against hunger, yielding 1,600 casseroles for local food cupboards annually • Sponsoring one-time events to serve or create meals, such as a “Stop Hunger Now” event in which our congregation packages and ships over 20,000 meals in one day • Leading trips to serve meals at local food pantries, such as Broad Street Ministry For more information or to contact us about opportunities to help, visit www.bmpc.org and go to Outreach > In Our Community > Hunger Initiatives.
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Reflections on the People we met in Lebanon and Syria By the Rev. Rebecca Kirkpatrick I am not sure exactly what we expected we would see and experience as six of us from BMPC traveled to Lebanon and Syria this February to meet with our partners and congregations of the National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon (NESSL). We knew we would see some of the fruits of the grant that our Session sent to NESSL in 2016 to support their education programs for Syrian refugees living in Lebanon as well as some of the relief efforts of congregations in Syria. We knew we would see programs, but the most profound thing we experienced were the people. We all have many opportunities to share more of 8 MESSENGER | Post Easter 2017
what we learned and saw in Lebanon and Syria, and many opportunities to talk about moving forward in deeper partnership with Presbyterians there, but most importantly, we want you to get to know the people. We were impressed and moved by the commitment of the women and men who have begun the work of running the schools for refugee children. Oftentimes retired teachers or young women from the local congregation run these schools. The teacher at the school in Minyara, Lebanon, talked to us about the struggles they had with the refugee children when they first started the school. Because so many of them had lived their entire lives in a refugee camp, lesson number one was learning how to use the restroom facilities at the school.
"This was a transformational trip of a lifetime. To see empowered Christians fighting devastating conditions to be the face of God for those in need was seeing true grace in action." - BMPC member Anne Grauer Her husband, the church’s pastor, shared a story of how when the children misbehave they often ask his wife if she is going to hit them. Her response is always that they are human beings, and she will never hit them. He joked that her punishment instead is to write, “I am a human being� 100 times. Can you imagine being a teacher and the most important lesson you taught every day was teaching children that they are human and deserve to be treated with love?
provide pastoral care for those who stay and those who choose to leave. The pastors were all incredibly generous with their time and honest in their willingness to answer our questions.
Much of the time we spent in congregations was with the pastors. Each of them had remarkable stories to tell about what it means to be a pastor in Lebanon and Syria in these days, what it means to be the primary coordinator of the social service and relief work the churches are doing, and what it means to
Stay tuned over the next year to hear more about how you might be able to connect with our partners there as well as ways to be a part of our ongoing support of the important work they are doing in the face of so much need.
Everything they shared was rooted in a desire to maintain the values of our Presbyterian tradition of compassion and justice as well as a deep appreciation for the generations of connections they have with the Presbyterian Church in the United States.
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Our Church in 2067: Fourth and Fifth Graders Share Their Perspectives In January and February, our fourth and fifth grade Sunday School students studied what it means to be the Church. We read scripture that explained the way our church is organized. We explored the building. We met with church members who grew up at BMPC. We met with Trustees, Deacons and Elders to understand how our church makes decisions. After that study, we considered the question: What will our church be like in 50 years? Here’s our answer. At all times the Church’s job is to: • Teach people about God and God’s word, especially about Jesus. • Worship God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit together. • Help our neighbors when they are hungry, cold, sick, alone, afraid or in need no matter their age, gender, race, social status or even someone’s religion. • Teach children about God’s love and make sure that they are safe. • Help parents. • Help each other when we are hungry, cold, sick, alone, afraid, grieving or sad. As members of the church, our job is to: • Show our faith at church, at home and in our everyday lives. • Come to church and be a part. • Give our money, food, time and talent to help. • Care for each other. • Welcome others. • Learn new things.
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In 2067, our church will be different. We imagine that there will be: • Different people attending worship. • New ways to get to church - maybe even new ways to bring the church to people. • New songs to sing. • No more paper bulletins. • Different teachers and pastors leading. • Different hair styles and clothing styles. • Some changes to what the buildings look like inside and out. In 2067, these things will be the same: • We will still worship God. • We will still read from the Bible (even if it isn’t a physical book). • We will still sing together (maybe even some of the same hymns). • We will still help neighbors - though some of the problems may be different. • We will still have Christmas Pageants. • We will still celebrate baptisms and serve Communion. • We will still have teachers and leaders. • We will still have candy, cookies and opportunities for fellowship.
Vacation Bible Camp:
Exploring the Parables Through Art Jesus turned the world upside down! He welcomed sinners, he walked on water, and he healed the sick. Jesus also told stories. His parables used everyday images to show the people God’s great love. How can 1st century stories take on new life today? From June 19-24, our children will take on that task. We will be retelling Jesus’ stories through music, movement, acting, and art. VBC registration is open through Thursday, June 1. The cost is $50 per child, with a $150 cap per family. Scholarships are available. Camp begins with a kick-off on Sunday, June 18. Rising fourth and fifth graders will join our Philadelphia mission partners for a week of service. We are looking for enthusiastic volunteers who can: •
Help prep projects before camp begins.
•
Help greet families and assist with registration on Sunday, June 18.
•
Volunteer during the week of VBC to help shepherd a small group, encourage youth volunteers, lead a project, or make snacks.
If you are interested in helping, email MaryRichards@ bmpc.org or RachelPedersen@bmpc.org.
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Intergenerational Relationships and the “Rule of Eight” By the Rev. Rachel Pedersen Over the past 10 years, researchers have tried to pinpoint critical factors in shaping lifelong Christian faith. Over and over again, the research proves that children and youth who have deep connections to adults in their home congregation become some of the most active, articulate, and faithful adults in the church. Researchers note that if children have a connection to five to eight adults in the congregation, their relationship to the church fundamentally changes. When a young man in my last congregation came home from college and appeared in church, his parents told me it was the first time he had been awake before noon. I asked him what brought him to church that morning. His response was quick: “I wanted to see my confirmation sponsor, and I needed to say hi to Michael.” The list continued; he was there because of those deep connections. In a world with few intergenerational relationships and fewer face-to-face relationships, church connections provide a critical resource to young people. We also know the reverse is true. Adults who have connections to younger generations feel more connected to the life of a congregation, are more hopeful about the future, and often see growth in their own faith lives. Imagine what would be different if you could identify eight children in our church by name? Imagine what would be different if eight children could greet you by name as well? Imagine what the spirit could accomplish with such connections! So how can we make that happen? We need your help. Here are five ways to build intergenerational community at Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church: Introduce yourself to the people in the pews around you in worship. See if you can greet people by name! Join us in prayer! We are building a prayer team to help lift up our children, youth, and families. Sign up with mrichards@bmpc.org to receive occasional emails about upcoming prayer concerns. Be present! We’re looking for wonderful people who would be willing to help in classrooms and at youth events. You wouldn’t need to teach, but rather sign up to be a welcoming and encouraging presence. Be an encourager! Would you love to see children or youth be a part of a church program? Tell us about it! We can help provide resources to include children and youth. 12 MESSENGER | Post Easter 2017
Help us imagine new possibilities! During the summer a team will be working on ways to build connections between the generations. Do you have some great ideas? Join the team and help make them a reality.
BMPC and Singing City Present
Legendary Conductors Anton Armstrong and André Thomas in Concert By Lauren Anderson Renowned choral conductors and arrangers Anton Armstrong and André Thomas will be guest conductors for a concert at BMPC on Sunday, May 21 at 3:00 p.m. Singing City & the Singing City Children’s Choir, the Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church Sanctuary Choir & Children and Youth Choirs will perform works by David Conte, Kenneth Jennings, Kurt Weill, Kim André Arnesen, André Thomas, and others. The combined choirs, numbering more than 150 singers, will be supported by The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, one of the world’s finest ensembles. Tickets for the concert are $15 for general admission; $20 for preferred seating; and $5 for students. Tickets will be available for purchase from Singing City at singingcity.org or 267-519-5321. Armstrong is the Tosdal Professor of Music at St. Olaf College in Minnesota. He is director of the St.
Olaf Choir and Collegiate Chorale and also teaches advanced choral conducting and vocal pedagogy classes that focus on child and adolescent voices. He serves as the artistic director of the St. Olaf Christmas Festival. Armstrong currently is the summer music director of the Youth Choral Academy of the Oregon Bach Festival based in Eugene, Oregon. He is an editor for Earthsongs Publications and co-editor of Augsburg Fortress Publishers. With Augsburg Fortress he is editing the revised St. Olaf Choral Series, which contains literature that was composed by F. Melius Christiansen and Kenneth Jennings, among others. Thomas is the Owen F. Sellers Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities and Professor of Choral Music Education at the Florida State University in Tallahassee. In addition to his collegiate teaching career, Thomas conducts various choral organizations throughout the United States and internationally. He currently serves as the artistic director for the Tallahassee Community Chorus. His international conducting experiences include Australia, England, China, Estonia, Israel, New Zealand and many others. He has conducted about 40 All-State high school choirs and has twice conducted the World Youth Choir. His influence ranges beyond conducting to author of various choral education and specialty fields and composer. He writes frequently about black composers
André Thomas
Anton Armstrong
and the struggle of becoming a black “classical” composer and performing ethnic music (spirituals and gospels) with integrity. His choral compositions have been published by seven different publishing companies. On display at BMPC in conjunction with the concert will be African Art of the George Purvis Collection, Harcum College, and Voices in Quilts from Ghana shared by Christina Johnson. The collection from Harcum highlights African sculpture in different materials: masks, fabrics, textiles and household items. The quilts of Ghana were achieved as the expressions of the women who created them under the direction of Johnson, a fellowship recipient sent to teach and learn. The exhibit will be on view from Sunday, April 30 to Sunday, May 28. A reception for the concert and art exhibit will be held immediately following the concert in the Ministries Center. 13 MESSENGER | Post Easter 2017
Artists’ Gathering Exhibition By Bonnie Atwood and Jean Wolf Opening on Sunday, June 4, the Artists’ Gathering exhibition of watercolors, pastels, acrylics, drawings, and other two-dimensional media will be on display throughout the summer in the Conference Room and Witherspoon Parlor for all to enjoy or purchase. These artists gather at BMPC every Thursday with their easels and supplies to create in artistic fellowship using the natural light and studio-like space in the Gloucester Room. In exchange for use of this “studio,” they are displaying their colorful and talented achievements for the congregation’s summer pleasure. All are encouraged to visit the exhibition and see these beautiful, diverse accomplishments. You will recognize some artists’ names from past exhibits, but new artists who have joined the fold will be offering their talents as well. The 11 artists who gathered during the 201617 season and will share their works are: Terry Boyle, Vicky Emery, Kathy D’Amico, Mary Hodgkinson, Margie Isherwood, Mimi Barclay Johnson, Jane L. McGovern, Pat Riley, Rick Sperry, Radhika Srinivas, and Nancy Wessells. Special thanks to Mimi Barclay Johnson for being the group organizer. All artists are welcome to join this group, whether a church member or not. For more information, contact Visual Arts Committee co-chairs Bonnie Atwood, batwood313@verizon.net, or Jean Wolf, jeankwolf@gmail.com.
New York Times Bestselling Author and Columnist
Bruce Feiler Lecture and Book Signing Tuesday, May 23, 7:30 p.m. Main Line Reform Temple 410 Montgomery Ave., Wynnewood Bruce Feiler’s bestsellers Walking the Bible and Abraham thoughtfully explored our shared ancestors and engaged people of all backgrounds in open, compassionate conversation during a time of discord and fear. Now with The First Love Story: Adam, Eve and Us, his first major writing on religion in a decade - Feiler redeems history’s first couple, explains the many ways we’ve scapegoated Eve, and elevates these founding figures to their rightful place as role models for unity and forgiveness. Copies of Feiler's book will be available to purchase at the event, courtesy of Children’s Book World in Haverford. This event is sponsored by Main Line Reform Temple, Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church, Beth Am Israel, Gladwyne Presbyterian Church, and Beth David Reform Congregation. 14 MESSENGER | Post Easter 2017
Register for either trip by visiting www.bmpc.org > Calendar > Open Registrations
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The Messenger Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church 625 Montgomery Avenue Bryn Mawr, PA 19010 610-525-2821 The Messenger (USPS #341840) Volume #119, Issue #3, 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
Summer Sunday Schedule • • • •
Worship at 8:00 and 10:00 a.m. Childcare for infants – age 3, 7:45-11:15 a.m. Sunday School for age 4 – rising 3rd graders, 10:15 a.m. (beginning June 11 after the Children’s Moment in worship) Grades 4 - 12 worship with their families Adult Education classes with the Rev. Mary Steege and the Rev. Frank Pottorff, Sundays, June 18 - July 9, 11:15 a.m.
Calling All Singers Come to our choir loft at 9:00 a.m. on any summer Sunday from June 18 through Labor Day for a short rehearsal, and then sing for the 10:00 a.m. service. Summer choir is simple (one anthem and hymns), and informal (no robes). Questions? StephanieSpeakman@bmpc.org, ext. 8836.
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