the
Special Edition | Spring 2020
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Letter from the Pastor
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Wherever We Are, We Are the Church
n the day of Pentecost, celebrated as the birthday of the church, we are told that after the disciples spent time together in the temple: They broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved. The Acts of the Apostles 2:46-47
From the beginning days of Christian community much of the life of faith was nurtured in the home, and it still is. Parents of young children know this firsthand as their little ones ask them life’s big questions at home, and the faith of their children begins to take root during the table blessing over meals, and through stories and prayers before bedtime. When we grow up, many of us begin to depend on what happens at the church to nurture our faith through the music, hymns and liturgy of worship: sermons crafted to lift our spirits and challenge us to lives for service; church school classes and Bible studies; coffee hours and fellowship meals together; retreats and mission trips; and a wide variety of opportunities with others in service to our community and world. I have learned many things from our current coronavirus pandemic. I have been reminded of how much corporate worship and singing the great hymns of the church means to me and how much I miss it. I imagine I may have heretofore taken for granted the freedom we typically enjoy to worship in beauty and in truth. I realize now how I treasure the countless brief conversations I have every Sunday, shaking hands at the door after worship, over a cup of coffee, before and after a class on an important topic for discipleship. I miss the front desk volunteers and the incarnate community of meetings which further the ministry of the church. Our congregation does many things very well to foster Christian community and nurture our discipleship. Now, however, I wonder if our focus on excellence for events on the church campus means we may have neglected to help people better navigate their own spiritual lives at home. It is true that if you have a computer and are the least bit technologically savvy, you currently can view worship and join a group for a class or a meeting on Zoom. But if you don’t have a computer, or if you grow weary of looking at a screen, there are many other ways to nurture your life of faith apart from the offerings of the church. I trust we will emerge from this pandemic having learned better how to help people practice their faith, nurture their spirituality, and discover their avenues of service apart from gathering at BMPC. Because I am continuing to lead the worship and administration of the church, albeit a virtual one, my work has not changed significantly. But in the absence of in-person meetings and hospital visits, I am recommitting to patterns of time well spent that I hope to carry long into the future. I am paying more attention to the natural world around me, enjoying every blooming thing I pass on long walks, and learning to identify some birds by their mating calls. I read a poem every day as a form of prayer. I have re-read Robert Louis Stevenson’s A Child’s Garden of Verses, Robert Frost’s book In the
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Clearing, Mary Oliver’s Thirst, Garrison Keillor’s edited collection from the Writer’s Almanac called Good Poems, and David Whyte’s Consolations. Without buying one new book I am enjoying reading the novels already on our bookshelves. A couple of times a week I call a long-distance friend or relative to reconnect, something I wasn’t making enough time for before. A couple of church members have asked me to suggest ways they can become better students of the Bible while they are home, and I have offered three tried and true practices: Lectio Divina is a form of prayerful meditation on a passage of scripture. It involves reading and repeatedly rereading the text; sitting with it in a spirit of contemplation or meditation; allowing the text to guide you in a spirit of prayer; and then considering how the text invites a response in your life. Havruta is another practice of reading scripture that is done in pairs. You enlist another person to dialogue about a text, and it’s especially fun among intergenerational pairs if you invite a youth or child to engage with you. The root meaning of havruta is “friend,” and this ancient Jewish practice invites a friendly dialogue. One person reads the text aloud; the other responds to it, asking questions or articulating wonderments that arise in its hearing. Then you trade places and do the same. As the dialogue unfolds, the two friends actually become friends with the text itself as new layers of meaning and wonder are revealed. Finally, I have suggested that people consider reading larger passages of scripture than we usually hear in the context of worship. It does not take long to read the Gospel of Mark (20 pages in our pew Bibles), and reading the whole narrative in one sitting is deeply moving. We notice things about the life of Jesus we do not hear when it’s read in bits and snatches. Likewise, the novellas in the Old Testament such as Joseph’s story in the latter third of Genesis or Ruth or Esther or any of the Pauline letters, can easily be read in a sitting. It is not hard to become more biblically literate. We trust the Spirit to guide our understanding and do not require a professional interpreter to gain knowledge about the Bible’s unique revelation of God. When we regather after this season of isolation, I imagine we will be changed. At first our congregational life may be odd and disconcerting with social distancing, wearing face masks and ceasing to shake hands at least for some time to come. But I also am counting on our emerging as a stronger, more resilient and faithful new creation. We will take our learnings and practices from this time and, as from those homes of the disciples in the second chapter of Acts, there will be no telling how we will spread the good news of the gospel. Grace and Peace, 3
Education Building Renovation Update Renovations on the Education Building stopped in March due to the pandemic, but work began again in early May. The frame for the new front entrance of the Education Building is being constructed; the elevator is being installed; the trim around the windows is being sanded and refinished; light fixtures are being connected; and concrete footings for the Weekday School’s outdoor deck are poured. Work also has begun on the BMPC Chapel Garden which will include a fountain and seating areas.
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CORNER
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esus is clear: The first commandment is to love God. The second is similar – to love your neighbor as yourself. Everything else the gospel writer Matthew records hangs on these two commands. The need to obey them has never been more apparent than during the coronavirus pandemic. Since the beginning of the pandemic – when phrases like “social distancing” and “economic impact payment” still were foreign to our vernacular – your church has been carrying out Jesus’ command. The Board of Deacons immediately started making phone calls. The Caring Ministries Team (Carol Cherry, Parish Nurse; Renee Malnak, Social Worker; and Kiki McKendrick, Middleton Counseling Center Administrator) delivered meals and various essentials. Numerous individuals volunteered to grocery shop or check in on those confined to their homes. Such a sweeping response emanated from the intrinsic caring nature of our church community. The response continued and expanded in the weeks that followed. Opportunities were created to enable individuals without internet access to worship at home; applications for mail-in voting ballots were mailed; and people continued to volunteer to help anyone in need. As we approach the summer months, your church continues to support anyone in our community who needs assistance. If you or anyone you know needs food, medicine or other essentials, or someone to assist with grocery shopping, please call 610-525-2821, and select option 2.
CARING
Caring for One Another
Living Life (w)holy During This Time
During this time Caring Ministries is offering ways to extend care to yourself and others in mind, body and spirit. To enable this, we created a Virtual Caring Corner that is included in the BMPC eNews every Thursday. You can find our past offerings on the Caring Ministries page on the BMPC website: https://bit.ly/BMPCCaringMinistries. One way to care for yourself is to implement the following simple daily prayer practice. It can improve your outlook, set a spiritual intention for your day, and lift up those you love. It’s called the 4-2-1 program which can be done anywhere without any special books or equipment. Simply list the following:
4: List four things you are grateful for. 2: List two people you would like to pray for. 1: List one thing you hope or pray for yourself.
Practicing gratitude daily for one week can lead to an increase in happiness that can persist for months. This regular practice also has been found to increase positive emotions, reduce the risk of depression, and increase resilience in the face of stressful situations. (Source: “Four Great Gratitude Strategies.” Greater Good Magazine-Science Based Insights for a Meaningful Life, UC Berkeley. June 30, 2015.)
For more holistic self-care information, check out the BMPC Virtual Caring Corner: https://bit.ly/BMPCCaringMinistries. If you would like a printed copy of the weekly Caring Corner, please contact the Rev. Brian Ballard at 610-520-8820.
Additionally, the Middleton Counseling Center remains open via videoconferencing. Therapists have generously agreed to accept new clients to help during this difficult time, and scholarships are available. Please contact Kiki McKendrick at 610-525-0766 to get started. Even during this most difficult time, it is a true gift to see our church come together to support one another. Thank you for fulfilling Jesus’ commandments and being the hands and feet of Christ in our community. 5
The Work of Mission Has Not Stopped
In the midst of social isolation and fear about the COVID-19 pandemic, several members of Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church are finding deep inspiration in the courage and grit of a young mother from West Africa. Aissata Kouyate, a 27-year-old asylum seeker from Guinea, fled her homeland to save her infant daughter from female genital mutilation. Aissata experienced this harrowing procedure as a young girl, and one of her sisters hemorrhaged and died after this brutal mutilation was done to her. Aissata is relieved to be safely in the United States with her two daughters, now 4 and 2, and she is willing to do whatever it takes to make a life here for her family. BMPC and several Wayne churches pooled resources to help Aissata learn English, find an apartment, and eventually obtain full-time employment at a private school/day care in Ardmore. At first Aissata spoke only her village language and French. Members of the various churches communicated with her in French, but now, thanks to a wonderful ESL volunteer, Aissata’s English is nearly fluent. Aissata is diligent and highly resilient, working through many crises, including the loss of her purse and all her identification papers, a horrible toothache and subsequent root canal, bedbugs in her apartment twice, and a painful fall down the stairs in her building. Before the pandemic, Aisatta and her daughters would catch the first of two buses each weekday at 6:40 a.m. in order to get to work. The girls are cared for at the school for a very small fee that is taken out of Aissata’s paycheck. The family also takes public transportation to shop for groceries, do laundry every week, go to doctor appointments and run other errands. It’s not an easy life for this family of three, but it has been rewarding as Aissata works along with our Refugee Support Committee to help her achieve financial independence. To this end, the committee had been gradually reducing monetary support until early March when Aissata was laid off without pay because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The committee responded by increasing temporary support, including Aissata’s full rent. The BMPC congregation responded generously with additional gifts to help during this difficult time. To minimize Aisatta and her daughters’ risk of exposure to the virus, several committee members have volunteered to deliver groceries and take turns washing and delivering laundry from a safe distance for the duration of the stay-at-home directive.
Juneteenth Webinar Sunday, June 14, 2:00 p.m. via Zoom Conference Call
In the years following the end of slavery in the United States, the tradition of Juneteenth was begun among African Americans as a way to celebrate that liberation among freed slaves and their descendants. While the practice of celebrating Juneteenth declined in the 20th Century, from the Civil Rights Movement up until today, it has been a way for the black community to reconnect and to celebrate African-American history and culture.
Just a few days ago, Aissata said, “When my mother asked if I miss home, I told her, “Sure, I miss my family, but I feel like I have a real family here, the way I have been taken care of.”
On Sunday, June 14 at 2:00 p.m., BMPC will host a virtual Juneteenth gathering online in the lead up to the actual date of Juneteenth - June 19. We will be joined by local activist and speaker Anita Friday who will give us a history of the celebration and what it means for communities today. We also will have the opportunity to learn more about the role of Spirituals in the African-American community, as well as how several Black churches in Philadelphia have come together in the midst of the pandemic to advocate for increased access to COVID-19 testing.
We are very grateful to be a part of Aissata’s American family. We all look forward to sharing a home-cooked West African dinner with Aissata and her daughters post-shutdown!
You can find details about joining the Zoom event on the Adult Education webpage: https://bit.ly/BMPCAdultEducation or contact RebeccaKirkpatrick@bmpc.org.
Despite the many challenges, Aissata is remarkably upbeat and has developed friendships with committee members and coworkers. The committee members remain in touch with Aisatta and the girls via phone calls, sharing stories and encouraging them.
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BMPC Summer Podcast Series
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oving so many parts of our lives online during the pandemic has meant that we are spending much more time in front of a screen. While that can be a great way to feel connected, it also can be exhausting at times. To reduce screen time this summer, the pastors will record a series of audio podcasts that will help us continue to remain connected, without being chained to our computers. Conversations on the podcasts will feature BMPC pastors and staff talking together about life under quarantine and the The work of Mission in our church continues in this moment, and our Outreach Council and Worldwide Ministries Council already have distributed close to $275,000 to 34 organizations in Philadelphia and around the world, most of whom are on the front line of the pandemic, supporting, caring for and educating communities hit hardest by the medical and economic ramifications of the crisis.
parts of “being church” that continue on despite the shutdown. This also will be an opportunity to be in conversation with members of our church who are on the front lines of the crisis, sharing good news stories of what it means to be community together. We will talk with mission partners who have adapted during the pandemic as well as other community leaders who will share insights on how who we are as a church might change because of the pandemic. To subscribe to the podcast series, you can follow links on our church website, or go directly to Apple Podcasts on your iPhone or download the Google Podcast for your Android phone and search “Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church.”
Support the Hunger Fund
During this time, our Hunger Committee is best able to respond to ever-emerging needs in our local community of Lower Merion as well as Greater Philadelphia, as more and more people become reliant on food assistance. The legacy of addressing food insecurity is foundational to who BMPC is as a congregation, and at this time we have the opportunity to generously support more than 18 organizations we partner with to help people feed their families and stay healthy. The Hunger Committee is grateful for the generous donations that have been made to the Hunger Fund since the shutdown began, because the impact of this pandemic will likely be long lasting. To donate to the Hunger Fund, you can mail a check directly to the church or give online: https://bit.ly/BMPCOnlineGiving.
In March, the pastors and their families joined together to create casseroles for our partners in Philadelphia. 7
Lifelines During a Pandemic By Dorothy (Dottie) Bowen When a worldwide viral pandemic changed the daily flow of life for people around the globe, it became important to find connections for coping with such a dramatic change. In addition to faith and the assurances we have in Scripture that the Lord is with us always (Matthew 28:20), a lifeline for my husband Frank and me during this time has been the amazing ways in which BMPC pastors and staff have stepped up and reached out to keep “church” active and our church family supported. Worship, learning for all ages, the various ministries and groups, and leadership teams have continued in vital and creative ways. I wish to express appreciation for the excellent adult education offerings during this season as well as anticipation for what will come, as all of us take a longer view of the requirements of social isolation. Each of the courses offered this spring have been outstanding and meaningful. • Where is the Church: Pentecost to Pandemic, led by Courtney Willcox, provided a dynamic and informative look at the church from past to possible future considerations, using Scripture, lecture, music, art and guided imagery. • Joshua Yoder taught an interesting course on the Apocrypha, using a text and his own research to explore the gospels and other writings that were not included in canon Scriptures, yet were read widely and continue to offer both mystery and clues to events and persons. • The course on Centering Prayer, led by Patricia Danzon, focused on Centering Prayer and Inner Awakening, a guidebook by Cynthia Bourgeault, with discussion and a time of practicing centering prayer during each session. The group has decided to continue through the summer to study The Way of Silence: Engaging the Sacred in Daily Life by Brother David Steindl-Rast and to continue learning the practice of centering prayer. Frank and I are finding that these adult education offerings and Zoom meetings of his men’s groups — the Sanctuary Choir, Coffee Cup Bible Study, and most recently Holy Leisure — along with worship, are serving as vital connections, even lifelines during this time. My hope and prayer are that the challenges of the pandemic will stimulate us to find ways to reach even more people using variety of small groups that offer prayer, learning and caring for one another, resulting in connectedness and spiritual growth, we move into the future, trusting that with God nothing shall be impossible (Luke 1:37).
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YOUTH MINISTRY Here’s what has been happening with Youth Ministry while the BMPC campus is closed due to the coronavirus pandemic: • Sunday Morning Connection Groups via Zoom • Middle School Mid-Week MeetUp via Zoom for ALL Middle Schoolers • Student Serve via Zoom for ALL High Schoolers • College Small Group via Zoom for ALL College students • Devotional posts from Pastor Leigh, with help from youth and volunteers, are available to view on our social media channels. Follow us on Instagram @bmpc_youth, TikTok @bmpc_youth, and join our BMPC Youth Ministry Facebook Group at bit.ly/YouthFacebookGroup to get the latest information about our virtual ministry opportunities. With the help of incredible volunteers, we delivered almost 300 Easter packages to all our children and youth families at BMPC!
We’ve also introduced our Youth Column, which navigates issues of current events, adolescence, and faith, all written and led by youth! Check out the BMPC website to read columns written by our youth members: https://bit.ly/BMPCYouthColumns The BMPC Youth Ministry and Caring Ministries Team have partnered to start an awesome Pen Pal program. Interested youth are paired with our more “mature” members to write letters back and forth during this challenging time of social distancing. Lastly, through the technology of Zoom and some incredibly flexible Confirmands, pastors and Session members, our Confirmation Class of 2020 will be confirmed into full membership at BMPC by the end of May. For more information about any of these programs and links to Zoom sessions, contact Pastor Leigh at LeighDeVries@bmpc.org or Cameron McKendrick, our Youth Ministry Summer Assistant, at cmckendrick@bmpc.org.
Nearly 300 Easter packages were delivered to our children and youth families. 9
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Reading the Bible with Children
very time we open the Bible we are inviting God to speak anew. When we read Scripture with children, we have a unique opportunity to both form a new generation as well as be shaped by their words and interpretation. Adults can help overcome the practical challenges of reading Scripture, assisting with complex words or syntax. Children can restore wonder and bring new perspectives. Together adults and children can undertake the work of interpretation. There are three steps to interpreting Scripture with children:
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Embody the Story:
Using imagination, experiences and open-ended questions, we begin to construct a story that we are connected to and therefore understand. Children help us see ourselves in the story and make the story relevant to our own experiences. Try using questions that involve the senses or imagining the details. Examples include: I wonder how a character felt when X happened? I wonder what it smelled like? I wonder what his voice sounded like when he spoke? I wonder how you would react if X happened? I wonder if you could take a picture of this story… which moment would you choose? What would you include in your picture?
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Understand the Story:
This is the work of future Bible scholars! When we can relate to a story, we can then ask questions that help assure that we understand the words and the context of the passage. Many adults feel intimidated by Scripture, afraid that they don’t know enough to read and understand. Through early modeling, we can teach children about resources to better understand Scripture and to learn how to problem-solve through difficult passages. You might consider questions like: What happened before and after this story? How are things different in this story than they are today? Are there words or ideas in the story that you didn’t recognize? What parts of the story do you think are more important? Which parts could go away and the story would stay the same?
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Meaning Making:
The final step in reading Scripture is helping to reconnect the story to our own experiences and establishing Scripture as an important authority in our own lives. These are our theological questions! Children have a profound capacity to consider how a story relates to their own. These questions help children find meaning and guidance in Scripture. You might use questions like: Why do you think this story is in the Bible? What do you think it teaches us about God or our role as followers of Jesus? Why is this story important to you? What does e brain it takes th this story to fully 6 seconds !? teach the a question to d n o p s e r church?
DID YOU KNOW:
Question: Should we read from the “real” Bible or from a Children’s Bible? Both are great options. Reading from the Bible helps children learn the cadence and structure of Scripture and the practicalities of using a Bible. While the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV), the translation used in worship, is written at an 11th grade reading level, translations like the Common English Bible (CEB) or the New International Reader’s Version (NIRV) are more accessible to new readers. In any case, you may need to help a child unpack a narrative, know when a story begins or ends, and assist with new vocabulary. Children’s Bibles allow students direct access to the stories without the same need for support. Some excellent options include: The Children of God Storybook Bible by Desmond Tutu The Family Storybook Bible by Ralph Milton 10 Special Edition Messenger | Spring 2020
The Bible for Young Children by Marie-Hélène Delval (for preschool and younger) Read, Wonder, Listen: Stories from the Bible for Young Readers by Laura Alary and Ann Sheng (Preschool-Early Elementary) The Early Reader’s Bible by V. Gilbert Beers (Early Elementary)
Vacation Bible Camp
THOUGHOUT THE SUMMER
on the Road and at Home
Join us for 1:00 p.m. Facebook Live Story Time. New Sunday Morning offerings begin June 7.
We are the Church Together! Even though we are apart, this summer we will be the church: studying, singing, creating, playing and serving together. Although we are unable to be “on site,” we are providing resources for all our BMPC families (and friends) so they have everything they need to celebrate a special three-day VBC at home. If you know a family who would like to participate, please let us know! We are happy to help share resources with friends near and far. May 25 - June 26, Registration: We ask that families register so we can prepare enough kits for everyone! Registration information will be listed on the BMPC website. If you register by June 19, we’ll even include T-shirts. July 6 - July 12, Pick Up Kits: Come to the church to pick up your VBC kit. Online resources also will go live on July 6. Starting July 6, Share: Share your projects, conversations and more through Zoom! We want to see your VBC in action!
I would love to hear….
Sermons from the Gospel of Matthew
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e polled the congregation, asking members for topics to be considered from the pulpit this summer, and we received over 60 suggestions! They range from particular biblical passages to a wide range of subjects regarding faith and culture. When we considered the most frequently requested topics, we found that many could be addressed from texts in the Gospel of Matthew. Jesus’ teaching ministry in the Sermon on the Mount, his miracles performed and the parables he tells, address the concerns on the minds and in the hearts of our members: matters of prayer, grace, faith, discipleship, civility and economics in the Kingdom of God. The pastors are excited to have the continuity of Matthew’s gospel as a template to address questions of faith and Christian practice this summer. Other suggestions that won’t be covered in this series will, no doubt, be helpful in formulating future sermon series at BMPC. Thank you for your thoughtful responses. 11
MUSIC LISTENING RECOMMENDATIONS from the Music and Fine Arts Staff When I was asked to participate in the creation of this list, I was thrilled because music is so universally comforting in times of stress and uncertainty. But when I sat down to write my recommendations, I realized that in the past several weeks I’ve been clinging to feelings of nostalgia, and nostalgia, of course, looks different for everyone. So my recommendation is to think back to memories from your life and you will likely find music associated with those memories. Whether it is family holidays with Handel’s “Messiah” playing in the background, or the first song you danced to at your wedding, or car trips with your mom and dad listening to the
Eagles and Dolly Parton, or the first album that you ever bought with your own money… I’ve found that it’s the music so richly filled with personal memories that has been the most calming for me. With that being said, the assignment was to make a list so I will leave you with one recommendation. The final track on Kacey Musgraves’ Grammywinning album Golden Hour is a song called “Rainbow.” It’s a beautifully written piano ballad about hope and encouragement in the face of adversity, and it ends with her quietly singing the words, “It’ll all be alright,” which is something I think we all need to hear right now. - Stephanie Speakman Manager, Music and Fine Arts
I’m particularly drawn to music that exuberantly expresses the full gamut of human emotion. That typically drives me first to the music of Olivier Messiaen. One of my favorite works is “Joie Du Sang Des Étoiles” (“Joy of the Blood of the Stars”), the fifth movement of his sweeping Turangalîla Symphonie. This frenetic dance leaves me smiling every time! (And for you skeptics, this is a not-toodissonant Messiaen work!) If you need something that’s a bit more introspective, listen to Henryk Górecki’s, “Symphony No. 3” Op. 36. Also known as “Symphony of Sorrows,” the work is written from the perspective of a parent who has lost a child. The dominant themes 12 Special Edition Messenger | Spring 2020
Felix Mendelssohn’s setting of Psalm 42 “Wie der Hirsch schreit” – (As Pants the Hart) for choir, soloists, and orchestra is a piece that has all of Mendelssohn’s trademarks, including stunning melody, lush orchestration, and powerful text. The first movement is the most famous, but the entire piece is incredible. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s “Piano Concerto No. 23 in A major” is my all-time favorite of Mozart’s piano concerti. All three movements have captivated me since the first time I heard it as a student at Interlochen Arts Academy when a friend performed it at the annual Concerto Competition. Mitsuko Uchida and Murray Perahia are my favorite interpreters of this phenomenal work. - Edward Landin Senn Assistant Director of Music
of the work are motherhood and the devastation of war. This is a work that invites one to sit back with eyes closed and let the music wash over you. My favorite recording is Dawn Upshaw, soprano; London Sinfonietta; and David Zinman, conductor. It’s hard to think of a more breathtaking piano concerto than Sergei Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 3 in D Minor, Op. 30. This work exhibits an unbelievable energy with a phenomenal sense of balance in the writing for the pianist and the orchestra. I love the entire concerto, but the first movement is simply over the top! It begins innocently enough with a simple clarinet solo, but the minute the pianist enters, you are mesmerized by a stunning melody, with stunning, sweeping musical lines. The cadenza at the end of the movement has to
be heard to be believed. Favorite recording: Yuja Wang, pianist; Simon Bolivar Orchestra of Venezuela; and Gustavo Dudamel, conductor. Nothing can compare to the greatest choral work of all, J.S. Bach’s “Mass in b-minor.” One glorious chorus and solo after another leads finally to the hope of peace in “Dona nobis pacem.” What could be more appropriate? Finally, the psalter provides comfort and insight for all occasions of life. Herbert Howells’ setting of Psalm 42, “Like as the Hart” hits all the highpoints of beautiful melody, rich harmony, stirring climax and a breathtaking conclusion. - Jeffrey Brillhart Director of Music and Fine Arts
Zoom Rehearsal Reflections
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n Sunday, March 8, the Sanctuary Choir and the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia presented a stunning concert of French choral and orchestral music. In the days preceding the concert, news reports of the spread of COVID-19 had begun to intensify. As we exited the Sanctuary that afternoon, little did we know that this concert would be the last time our choir would be together in person for a while. That Thursday, our evening rehearsal was canceled, and the church campus was closed until further notice. That day I was notified of a Yale faculty Zoom meeting the following morning. (I had no idea what Zoom was at the time!) Midway through that meeting I realized that Zoom might be a vehicle for our Sanctuary Choir to continue gathering together, virtually. That following week our choir began weekly Thursday evening “Zoom rehearsals.” Over these past two months we have come together to share joys and concerns, sing some vocal warmups, and explore a variety of works. One week we even focused on taking an in-depth look at Brahms’ magnificent “A German Requiem.” While Zoom does not allow us to hear the sound of a choir singing, it allows us to remain in community, and that is a blessing! Here are a few reflections from choir members on the Zoom experience: Our Zoom rehearsals have really served as a “connection” for us during this forced shelter-inplace edict. It’s wonderful to see the smiling faces of choir friends and to be able to sing (although solo in front of our computers) some wonderful music. - Sandi Stouffer
The Zoom meetings provide a regular time to stay in touch, laugh, encourage, celebrate and mourn together. I look forward each week to the teaching comments Jeff provides as context for the music we are singing. Singing virtually is fun and refreshment for the soul. Weekly we are reminded that we are family at BMPC. - Dottie Bowen What I’ve missed these past weeks is singing music I love and with a family that shares that love. No, a Zoom “rehearsal” isn’t “the real thing,” but it helps fill the void. So, thank goodness for this opportunity. - Mary Anne Stetzer I really miss seeing my choir friends on Thursday evenings and Sunday mornings. Our weekly Zoom sessions allow us to see each other, socialize a little, and share some music. I loved singing through the hymns last week. - Linda Gamble What Zoom choir rehearsals mean to me: Time spent talking to someone I can see (virtually) other than my husband or myself! A chance to make music, even though I only hear my own voice. It’s a great time to catch up with what’s going on within the church family, especially with other choir members. - Susan Joseph The Zoom meetings are manna for these isolating months. Wow, almost an hour of semi-normality! And your musical information is super. The hymn singing made me read the words of the verses with a deeper appreciation for them and made me tear up a bit. I don’t want to envision a future without a loft full of singers. And I am sure you don’t either, but we will cope with what we have to cope with – and boy oh boy – how lucky we have been to be part of the choir family! - Ellen Anderson 13
BMPC Folks Connecting from a Distance By Jeffrey Brillhart One unexpected joy that we can proclaim is that of people from all over the country viewing Sunday service videos, Wednesday Taizé services via Facebook Live, and daily Children and Family Ministry Facebook Live sessions with
Pastor Rachel. I personally have heard from many people, including former members, members staying in their second homes, and non-members. Here are a few highlights:
Dear Jeff, One of the blessings of this pandemic is that I’ve been able to participate in worship virtually at my beloved BMPC. I was so happy that you figured out a way to let everyone enjoy the Hallelujah Chorus and your beautiful postlude, as well as all the other favorite hymns and traditions of Easter at Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church. Being able to watch your fingers fly over the keyboards during “Toccata” was a gift that I otherwise would never have seen. Thank you! Best regards to you and all, Mary Bassett
It isn’t Easter without the Widor. We tuned in from the Boston area to get our fix. Thanks so much for helping us celebrate in straitened circumstances from afar. So good to see a little of you as you played. It meant a lot to both my daughter and me. By the way, we also loved the brass quartet and all their contributions. So good to see their faces and hear their excellence. We sang along with the Handel. Made me miss BMPC big time! Happy Easter to you and yours… Sue Gibbons
Lynn and I want to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all you have done to preserve a sense of normalcy and artistry this past week under unprecedented circumstances. We felt very connected to our home church family this morning as we watched the virtual service. Daughter Sarah (who left New York City in mid-March and has been at Lake George since then) and son Doug and family all watched, and we connected via the service. In addition, I’m not in the least bit surprised that your Good Friday service with extraordinary cellist Branson Yeast was special. I forwarded that to several of my friends here in Florida, and they were moved. Needless to say I profoundly miss the BMPC choir experience, but we have made our lot down here for family reasons (support for Lynn’s parents five miles away, both in their 90s). Many thanks to you and Stephanie for keeping me in the loop. Keep up your amazing work, and please stay safe and virus-free. I frequently think back to my fortuitous connection with you in 1990 which led to my participation in the Brubeck “La Posada.” It was a life changer for me, and I thank you for that.
14 Special Edition Messenger | Spring 2020
All the best, Steve Tyre
“A Free Church”
By the Rev. Franklyn C. Pottorff
T
hat’s the title of an article from the May 1897 edition of The Messenger, which I stumbled upon in our church archives. At the annual meeting that year the congregation voted to approve an action by the Board of Trustees to eliminate the pew rental system. This was the mechanism, overseen by a pew agent, whereby congregants would pay for the right to sit in a particular numbered pew in our Sanctuary during worship. It gives context to the old phrase, “You’re sitting in my pew!”
places in the church. Let our gifts be rather free-will offerings to God himself.” Going on to acknowledge that this new system was troubling to some in the
We are still very much a free church today. There is no barrier to membership here. You are free to participate and give as your interest and ability allows. Thank God for the vision of those leaders! In this season of so much uncertainty, we give thanks for the deep and faithful generosity of this congregation. Our current financial health is strong. Our total stewardship YTD over last year is just above 98 percent. That means our giving continues fairly unchanged from this point in 2019. That is incredible, given how much has changed! As of this writing, we have been absent from corporate worship for nine Sundays, and yet your gifts and pledges continue unabated.
The pews toward the front guaranteed better sight and sound, so they were typically more expensive. However, the rentals were not mandatory, so there was always a place for congregants who didn’t rent one. And it’s worth noting that congregations that followed this practice also had a place for visitors called a “strangers pew.” (That seems to be one of the least inviting terms I can imagine!) According to the article, by the end of the 19th century half of the congregation no longer participated in the pew rental system, so the Trustees took a leap of faith and abandoned it. The longtime pew renters, however, were promised their continued favored spaces, and others need only contact the pew agent for new pew assignments. The article notes, “Let us all, however, seek to rid ourselves of the notion that, in making our offerings, we are paying for our
our members will contribute cheerfully and fairly…. And we venture to predict that we shall all feel a heartier interest in our church because of our personal cooperation in the movement to make it free.”
congregation because it induced fears that church finances would struggle, the leaders of BMPC were trusting that something new would emerge. “We cannot but believe, however, that a method which is in accord with the principles of the Gospel will not fail to win God’s approval and blessing; and that it is a matter of prime importance. We also believe that a great majority of
As we continue in this time, we remain the community we have always been - disciples of Jesus Christ who are called into the world to love and serve. Our “freedom” allows us to care for our neighbors near and far, and to further extend the invitation to the abundant life we have found. Thank you for your gifts, for your willingness to trust us with them, and for the future work to which we believe God is calling all of us. 15
The Messenger Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church 625 Montgomery Avenue Bryn Mawr, PA 19010 610-525-2821
The Messenger (USPS #341840) Volume #122, 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
Prerecorded worship services are available on our website every Sunday at 10:00 a.m. http://bit.ly/WeeklyBulletinAndSermons Re-Gathering Taskforce Named BMPC leaders are paying careful attention to the recommendations of medical and human resource professionals, as well as to local government leaders, about reopening our church campus in the coming months. Representing the Session, Trustees, Worship and Personnel Committees, the following church leaders
have been named to a special taskforce to help the church think through every aspect of how we re-gather for worship, classes, mission and programs: Tom Willcox, Anita Iyengar, Rich Allman, Bill McKee, Anne Wendel and Chris Libson. This taskforce will be staffed by Agnes Norfleet, Senior Pastor, and Carol Cherry, Parish Nurse.
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16 Special Edition Messenger | Spring 2020
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