Advent Messenger 2015

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ADVENT/CHRISTMAS 2015

MESSENGER BRYN MAWR PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

VOLUME 118 | ISSUE 1

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2014 Photo by Andy Sagcal

Letter from the Pastor Lift up your heads, O gates! and be lifted up, O ancient doors! that the King of glory may come in.

Who is this King of glory?

The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory.

Psalm 24:9-10 Psalm 24 helps us imagine a worship liturgy that acknowledges the majestic, glorious entry of God among the people of God. What a wonderful, invitational text to begin the season of Advent and Christmas. The earth and everything in it belongs to the Creator who continues to reign supreme. We are invited into God’s holy presence by ascending to worship with “pure hearts” and “clean hands,” an outward and inward manifestation of loving God and loving neighbor.

Triumphant, God comes to us; the Lord of all draws near to us. Look up and see God in the earth and among the human family. Advent worship at its best!

It’s a wonder, then, how we can get so overly burdened at this time of year by things that have us looking down instead of up. As Christmas approaches with so many details to manage at church and at home, I begin looking down: down at my lists of things to do, down at the calendar as the days speed by, down at my credit card as I pay for online purchases aware of my own acquiescence to the commercial frenzy of holiday shopping. Advent is meant to be the joyful, hopeful preparation to receive God’s in-breaking good news. But somehow there is always a tension in the neck of whether to look down at our daily preoccupations or to look up for God in our midst.

Many years and a couple of churches ago, shortly before Christmas I found myself in the church office alone when there was a knock on the front door. I was dealing with last minute preparations for the upcoming multitude of Christmas services. I opened the door to a young adult who said, “I’m just passing through town on my way home for Christmas, and I wonder if I could go sit in the Sanctuary for a few minutes. I was a member here several years ago when my family was going through difficult times. This church was our refuge. I live out of town now, but I remember how God seemed real in this place when we were going through the worst of it. I just wanted to stop by… so would it be OK if I just went up to the Sanctuary for a little while?” She went upstairs into that Sanctuary with its vaulted ceiling that had anyone who entered it looking up - to remember, to pray, to give thanks, to leave again with a renewed sense of hope? I don’t know for sure, but that moment has stuck with me as a reminder of how the church is at its best when it invites us to look up from the things that weigh us down with the confident trust that the King of Glory may come in.

Grace and Peace,

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Best Preschool on the Main Line

By Kim Black

The Weekday School was recently named the best preschool on the Main Line by Main Line Media News. What makes the Weekday School so special?

• An updated child-based curriculum including an Outdoor Learning Center, Kids Yoga, iPad Lab in the Learning Café, and Curiosity Club featuring a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) curriculum • A welcoming community for children and their families with many opportunities to become involved • An experienced, knowledgeable, nurturing staff that meets each child where he or she is and helps them to grow from there • An opportunity for children to grow academically, socially, physically, AND spiritually - Pastor Rachel visits each Wednesday to share a Bible story with the children For more information about the Weekday School, contact Kim Black at weekdayschool@bmpc.org or 610-520-8840.

Our Stewardship Journey

Excerpted from a Ministry Moment by Mark Dawejko in worship on Oct. 18 Our personal stewardship journey with this church began six years ago. We moved back to the area after a long absence and soon joined BMPC. We had a decision to make when our first pledge request arrived. Would we pledge and if so, how much? If we pledge one year do we have to pledge forever…if we pledge will we always have to increase the pledge…what is the normal amount of a pledge…if we don’t pledge enough will we be embarrassed…is it better to not pledge and just put money in the plate? I wish someone would have told us to keep it simple and just try it.

I don’t remember how much that first pledge was, but that’s not important. The important thing is that we started our journey.

Making our commitment immediately made us pay more attention to what was going on. When we paid more attention to what was going on, we got involved.

And when we got involved, we saw first-hand all the good things the church was doing.

Joy has now replaced our anxious questions. Giving to God through this church has become our favorite charitable contribution. Where else can you invest your time, talent and money in one place and so directly see and feel the good?

After some prayer, reflection and lots of discussion, we took a significant risk and made a large increase to our pledge.

We knew that if my business didn’t go well we might have to slash future pledges. But we were excited by the idea that if things did go well, we could give even more.

Through all of this, we didn’t realize we were on a stewardship journey until the opportunity came to chair the Stewardship Committee. We weren’t sure that we could or would, but then it occurred to us that we should. It was the next step for us.

Where are you on your journey? Is there more you can do through this church so more good can be done? If you haven’t yet pledged, we want you to join us. Take the advice we wish we had: keep it simple and just try it. No amount is too small. Let’s see where your journey takes you!

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Organ Recital featuring Faythe Freese

By Edward Landin

BMPC is pleased to welcome organist Faythe Freese in recital on Sunday, November 22, at 2:00 p.m. Dr. Faythe Freese, Professor of Organ at the University of Alabama School of Music, is in demand as a recitalist throughout the United States, Germany, Denmark, South Korea and Singapore. Dr. Freese is the first American woman to have recorded at L’Eglise de la Sainte-Trinité, Paris, on the landmark instrument where Guilmant, Messiaen and Hakim were titular organists.

Her fourth compact disc, Faythe Freese à l’Orgue de l’Eglise de la Sainte Trinité, has received critical acclaim in The Diapason, The American Organist, and Tracker Magazine. Dr. Freese’s performances have Above: Iris and Poppy by Nall been hailed as “powerful …masterful… impressive … brilliant.”

Below: Violin by Nall She holds degrees in organ performance and church music from Indiana University. She has held faculty positions at Indiana University, Concordia University in Austin, University of North Dakota-Williston, and Andrew College. As a Fulbright scholar and an Indiana University/Kiel Ausstausch Programme participant, she studied the works of Jean Langlais with the composer in France and the works of Max Reger with Heinz Wunderlich in Germany.

Her organ teachers have included Marilyn Keiser, Robert Rayfield, William Eifrig and Phillip Gehring. She has coached with Dame Gillian Weir, Simon Preston, and Daniel Roth.

Dr. Freese’s recital at BMPC will include works from five different countries as she reflects on a sabbatical she took this past year visiting and playing various organs throughout Europe. The program will also feature the Pennsylvania premiere of a work she commissioned by American organist and composer Pamela Decker entitled “The Freese Collection,” which is based on three works of art by artist, Nall. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students and may be purchased in advance at www.bmpc.org or at the door on the day of the recital. For more information, contact StephanieSpeakman@bmpc.org, ext. 8836.

Save the Date Sunday, January 31, 2:00 p.m.

Two-Piano Recital featuring Jeffrey Brillhart and Laura Ward performing the music of Bach and Brubeck 3 MESSENGER | Advent/Christmas 2015

Visual Arts Events

By Jean K. Wolf and Bonnie Atwood

Following the retrospective exhibit of BMPC’s permanent art collection in the early fall and a congregational photography show in November, the Visual Arts committee is pleased to present “Crafts, Art, and Culture of Botswana” from December 6 to January 24. All items from this small nation in Africa will be for sale for the holiday period. The creative native artists use recycled metal, colorful fabric, paper, beads, and grasses of all types and colors to create usable or decorative objects. They produce toys and dolls, unique statues of animals, hand woven baskets in all sizes and shapes, jewelry, note cards, and other clever items. Wild animals, birds, and African landscapes are captured realistically or in bold abstract paintings or batik prints for wall décor. The crafts and art will come to us as a labor of love and creative marketing by Cindy Friedman, a fiber artist who travels to Botswana regularly with her husband, Professor Harvey Friedman, MD. While Dr. Friedman directs a Botswana-University of Pennsylvania partnership to train medical teams to help reduce HIV and tuberculosis, Cindy assists the local artists to encourage training, the formation of art communities, and marketing their works. The couple returns to Philadelphia with luggage filled with purchased arts and crafts to share with galleries and non-profits for exhibits or sales. A talk by Dr. Friedman and a dance demonstration by women from Botswana will be scheduled.

An exhibit of BMPC stained glass and of works of nature seen through photographs by Bill Kemmerer will open on January 31 and be celebrated at a reception after the twopiano recital by Laura Ward and Jeff Brillhart. Watch also for a talk about the conservation of stained glass and fine arts on paper before this exhibit closes on February 28.

Advent Music in Worship Service

By Jeffrey Brillhart

This year the BMPC Music and Fine Arts department will mark the season of Advent with a special service of music on Sunday, December 13, at 10:00 a.m. Conducted by Jeffrey Brillhart and performed by the Bryn Mawr Chamber Singers, soprano Elizabeth Weigle, mezzo-soprano Monica Soto-Gil, tenor Galeano Salas, baritone Jarrett Ott and The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, the service will feature J.S. Bach’s Cantata 62, “Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland,” Bach’s Harpsichord Concerto in d-minor, and Handel’s “He Shall Feed his Flock” from Messiah.

Bach wrote Cantata 62 in 1724, his second year as Cantor at St. Thomas Church, Leipzig. The cantata is based on Martin Luther’s chorale, “Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland,” the number one hymn to begin the Liturgical year in all Lutheran hymnals. Bach first performed the cantata on December 3, 1724.

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Member Spotlight: Kathy Stevens

By Donna Barrickman Kathy Stevens is a native of New Jersey who joined BMPC in 1998 shortly after the birth of her first child, Natalie, who now serves as a youth elder. Raised in the Catholic church and Catholic schools, Kathy has always been committed to practicing her faith, and she chose BMPC as her family’s church home with the support of her husband, Pete, who is Jewish. She has taught Sunday School here for more than 15 years, following both Natalie (17) and her sons Grant (14) and Jack (11) by leading their classes and helping with Confirmation.

A graduate of Philadelphia Textiles, Kathy has worked in the business of clothing manufacturing and taught computer networking. She is currently the chair of Youth Ministry Council, which oversees and coordinates our programs for grades 6-12. A gracious hostess who enjoys opening her home to others, she has faithfully focused on fellowship opportunities at BMPC. She has always been involved with Presbyterian Women, first with Y Group, then as leader of “Connections” gatherings and as a member of the PW Advisory Board. In her many years with Membership Council, Kathy served as a new member shepherd, chaired Rally Day, and helped with Café in the Court and BMPC hospitality efforts. She has also been involved with Vacation Bible Camp and Congregational Care Council.

Kathy says there’s no place she’d rather spend her time and effort than at church.

She appreciates the perspective that she gains from both teaching and sharing with others, and she loves the people – of all ages – whom she meets here.

Upward Basketball

By Sarah Smith

What do a new scoreboard and an old gym have in common?

The launch of a new season of Upward Basketball at Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church! The Ministries Center gymnasium is now home to an exciting outreach ministry. On Tuesday nights and Saturday mornings during the season, there is a wonderful hum of activity as the church fills with spirited athletes, dedicated youth coaches, patient volunteers, and supportive families. This basketball league is unique for it is geared specifically to youth with special needs from our community.

1 Corinthians 12:12 says, “For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.” We have already seen in our ministry that regardless of ability level, we are all one in Christ. It is such a rewarding experience to give these athletes the opportunity to be a part of a team and to truly live out the Upward motto, “Every Child is a Winner.” In many ways, this mirrors the way that Christ welcomed all, regardless of personal circumstances.

With an enthusiastic group of youth and adult volunteers from our congregation and community, Upward Basketball at BMPC is making lasting impressions on our church members as well as visitors. Just one visit to a practice or game will leave you feeling inspired. We give thanks to God for calling us to develop this ministry and for what it means in the life of our church and community.

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Youth Ministry Update By the Rev. Kellen Smith

Our Council

Our ministry with youth is guided by a group of caring parents and volunteers who comprise the Youth Ministry Council. Meeting monthly, the YMC oversees programs, activities, and trips for our teenagers. This year, we welcome Kathy Stevens as the new chair for the YMC. Kathy is passionate about helping our ministry thrive and fulfilling our mission: “Sharing Christ’s Love Together.” Under her leadership, this fall the YMC is hosting a series of brunches for every class from grades 6 - 12 and their families to help enhance fellowship.

Our Mission

This summer we look forward to working with one of our worldwide mission partners, Jed Hawkes Koball, who is a PCUSA Mission Co-worker in Peru. Our High School Mission Trip will take us to Peru in July 2016 for what promises to be a memorable and meaningful experience. We also will take our middle schoolers to New York City for a mission trip in July called the Urban Plunge. Again this year, we will be hosted by Brick Presbyterian Church and partner with local organizations and ministries.

Our Worship Our hope is to continue to link worship in the Sanctuary with our Youth Gathering in the gymnasium. Since we started using Glory to God, the new Presbyterian Hymnal, we have begun incorporating new hymns into youth worship, led by our youth band. In addition to youth-led music, we offer a teen-focused sermon with theological depth and biblical insight shared in a relevant way. Already this year we completed a sermon series on Sabbath called “Refresh,” where we talked about finding rest in a restless world - something especially challenging for our youth who face many demands on their time and energy. Another popular series was “Emoji Christian.” If you’ve sent a text message, you’ve probably used an emoji character, which symbolizes an idea or emotion. During this series, we asked the question: “Is your faith just a symbol or something you take seriously?“

Bring the whole family to our annual

Thanksgiving Breakfast Thurs., Nov. 26, 8:30-11:30 a.m. in Congregational Hall All prep and clean-up of “Pancakes for a Purpose” is done

by Youth Ministry volunteers. Proceeds ($5 per person) support our youth mission projects and trips.

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Meet Our New Staff Member Torie Miele is our new Sunday School Coordinator and head of the Mother’s Morning Out program. A proud Penn State Alumnae, Torie has a background in childcare and human development. She was born and raised in Drexel Hill, where she still lives with her parents and her extensive pet family. In her spare time she enjoys hiking, yoga, cooking, and singing. She also loves to spend her time volunteering, whether it is with Main Line Hospice, Camp Sunshine (for families affected by various illnesses), or on service trips to Kenya. Torie is an active board member for a local non-profit, Project Sloopy, which collects surplus medical supplies and donates them all over the world. She has run many fundraisers for causes such as curing Gastroparesis and Camp Sunshine. While not working at BMPC, Torie assists in the care of many children and animals, including a pig!

Torie has been very excited to begin the Friday Morning Out program here at BMPC. She loves interacting with the church’s youngest members and teaching them all about the world around them. She strives to bring fun experiences to the children—exploring nature, music, and arts and crafts.

So far, her class has learned about musical instruments, how leaves change colors, and not to hit their friends! People say everything you need to know you learn in kindergarten, but Torie says “start them even younger!”

Child and Youth Protection Policy questions such as: what practices do we follow on off-campus trips? What is the protocol for responding to an allegation of misconduct?

Under the new state legislation, anyone who works directly with children, whether as an employee or volunteer, is a mandatory reporter. In cases of suspected abuse, we have a legal and ethical obligation to report to both state and county authorities and to the head of staff.

By Bob Holmes Over the past two years, our church has redeveloped our Child and Youth Protection Policy to reflect national best practices and new state laws. The Policy (available upon request), outlines day to day expectations including a minimum of two adults, adult to child ratios, room assignments, and the use of private vehicles. It also covers 7 MESSENGER | Advent/Christmas 2015

All staff and volunteers must pass both Pennsylvania Child Abuse and Criminal background checks, which are free for volunteers.

If you have lived outside of Pennsylvania in the last 10 years, you must also complete an FBI background check that includes fingerprinting. Recertification is required every three years.

As a congregation, we additionally require that all volunteers complete

an application, attend training, and confirm their willingness to follow the Policy’s standards. Mary Richards, Administrative Assistant for Children and Family Ministries, is happy to help you through the process. Many volunteers completed all of their required paperwork in less than an hour and have been able to use their clearances for other volunteer work.

Our Child and Youth Protection Team also has developed “Best Practices,” allowing each ministry area, such as Fine Arts, Confirmation and Tutoring, to address the particular needs of their programs.

What a gift it is to welcome children and youth into the life of our congregation! Thank you for helping to assure that we maintain the highest possible standards in assuring their safety while in our care.

News from Children & Family Ministry By the Rev. Rachel Pedersen

We have exciting new programs and opportunities for children and their families at BMPC: 1. Infant Room: This fall, we re-opened the infant room in the Education Building. Room 101 has been transformed into a space designed in response to the unique needs of our youngest church members. By separating the infants and the toddlers, we’ve been able to welcome more children on Sunday, provide a safer environment for all ages, and give our toddlers more space. Come by on Sunday morning to see both the infant room and the toddler room in action!

2. Friday Morning Out: Our new Friday Morning Out program is flourishing! Parents and caregivers drop off children—infants to age 3—on Friday mornings from 9:00 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. in the Education Building nursery to enjoy a morning to themselves while little ones learn, play, and explore together. Read more about our new childcare director, Torie Miele, on the previous page, and contact MaryRichards@bmpc.org for more information.

3. Doing Good Together: 20 blankets constructed, 150 sandwiches made, 25 Christmas kits for prisoners created, 10 plants delivered, and a day of service completed. This year, Children’s Ministry annual service event moved from a Friday night to Rosh Hashanah.

Students chose to spend a day off in service, helping neighbors and living out Christ’s commandment to “help the least of these.”

4. Wednesdays Together: Worship is a skill and a gift. Working with the Music and Fine Arts program, “Wednesdays Together” is a wonderful opportunity for children (Kindergarten- 5th grade) to sing and learn more about worship. As we prepared for World Communion Sunday, students learned about communion and even helped to make bread. As we prepare for Advent and Christmas, we’ll be working together on the 4:30 Christmas Eve Service.

5. Comprehensive Sunday School: The Word of God is transformative and central to our faith. This fall we launched a new curriculum designed to help children know and understand the key stories of our faith. It begins with the two and three year old classes as they explore scripture through concrete activities, engaging stories, and opportunities to play.

The four year old and Kindergarten classes are guided

by Young Children and Worship, a Montessori-inspired model of learning and worship where children spend one year working through the Bible and a second year learning the key stories of Jesus’ ministry. Our first and second graders begin placing these important stories into epic adventures. We’re following Abraham and Sarah from Ur to the Promised Land and Moses from the river to the palace to the desert… and that’s just the beginning. In third grade, our students receive their Bibles and then spend the year working through the major themes that connect and define our reading of scripture. By fourth and fifth grade, students are ready to see how these stories shape their own lives. Looking at the stories of “faithful failures,” we learn more about our own journey. At each stage, we allow scripture to grow with the students as a constant and faithful companion.

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Tis the Season

The word “advent” comes from the Latin adventus, which means coming...the coming of God that is at hand!

And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, through the tender mercy of our God, when the day shall dawn upon us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Luke 1: 76-79

Advent Gift Market Give gifts in someone’s honor… to help those in need!

This year’s Advent Gift Market (AGM) kicks off on Sunday, November 22, from 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. in Congregational Hall. Our sponsors will answer questions and you may also purchase tangible items to take home. When you donate to local and global projects and organizations on our shopping list, you receive a card insert explaining your gift in honor of the recipient. Prices start at $2.00; order forms are available for pick-up at church or on our website: www.bmpc.org.

Sales continue in the Court at 11:00 a.m. each Sunday through December 20, or drop off/mail order forms to BMPC for pickup.

New this year: you may fill out and pay for your order online for pick-up in the Ministries Center.

Questions? Contact Amy Bauer, AmyBauer@bmpc.org, ext. 8821.

Greeting Cards Music and Fine Arts Council’s Visual Arts Committee has once again chosen artwork for two styles of greeting cards that may be purchased at the Advent Gift Market and on December Sundays in the Court after 10:00 a.m. worship. The Christmas card (shown) is a photograph of The Nativity Icon by Maureen McCormick, and the general-purpose card depicts a landscape painted by Robert Woltanski. The cards are a great choice for AGM inserts, which explain a donation you have made in honor of the recipient. Cost is $1.00 each; packs of 12 are $12.00.

Icon by the hand of Maureen McCormick 9 MESSENGER | Advent/Christmas 2015

Wednesday Advent Class By the Rev. Rebecca Kirkpatrick We always say that Advent is a season of waiting. We remember the anticipation of Joseph and Mary as they waited for this unexpected child to be born. We hear the echoes of the prophets orienting us to the expected return of Christ again to earth. Advent is a season of waiting.

And yet we live in this middle moment of time and theology. Some call it an “already/not yet” moment. Christ has already come, and yet we are waiting in eager longing for him to come again. We look for a day when Christ’s kingdom will come at some point in the future and yet we see around us already signs of God’s presence and ability to change the world around us for the better.

In the spirit of living fully into this “already/not yet” moment, we will gather together on Wednesdays during Advent to study the stories of Jesus’ childhood both as a baby and a young boy in the temple. Mary and Joseph lived their own kind of “already/not yet” existence, knowing that their son was God’s anointed but still waiting themselves for him to live into these lofty expectations.

In the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, we read of the early church’s traditions surrounding Jesus’ childhood.

Each story, whether of the Holy Family’s flight to Egypt, the presentation of Jesus in the temple for circumcision, or Jesus and his family traveling to Jerusalem for the Passover, foreshadows Jesus’ earthly ministry and message of the Kingdom of God. Join us on December 2, 9, & 16 at 7:00 p.m. in Witherspoon Parlor as we anticipate the season and look for signs of the kingdom already among us. Questions? Contact RebeccaKirkpatrick@bmpc.org, ext. 8818.

Deck the Halls

By Pattie Hallowell

Decoration is our symbolic gesture during the Advent season to make bold our anticipation and celebration of the coming of the Messiah. Perhaps we hang lights to “keep the light on” for this expected one. We show that we are ready and He is welcome. The word adventure also comes to mind. In regard to the coming of God, if we adventure by seeking Him in His approach to us, where we meet is exactly where Christ is.

Each year, our Flower Committee helps get our church ready for Christmas by installing decorations that gradually unfold throughout the Advent season. If you enjoy this kind of work, help us install wreathes, garlands, poinsettias and window arrangements in the Sanctuary. Decorators will gather on Wednesdays, December 2 and 9 from 9:30-noon; Thursday, December 17, from 9:30 a.m. - noon; Saturday, December 12, from 1:003:00 p.m.; and Saturday, December 19 from 9:30 a.m. - noon. If possible, please bring holly from your yard and any useful tools. For more details and to sign up for one or all of the days listed please contact Patti Hallowell at augustehallowell@mac. *Special thanks to all who donate to the BMPC Flower Fund, which is supported by poinsettia and Easter lily dedications at Christmas and Easter and pays for our holiday decorations. SarahMiciek@bmpc.org, ext. 8817.

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Fun for All Ages - Advent Workshop By the Rev. Rachel Pedersen

Our Advent Workshop is an opportunity for families to slow down and enjoy preparing for Christ’s birth together… to help us shift from thinking about presents to thinking about the gift of the Christ Child. Children and Family Ministry Council and Y-Group are working together to plan a fun-filled morning on December 6. After 10:00 a.m. worship, we’ll gather in Congregational Hall to create stockings for children at theVillage, ornaments to decorate our trees, and a few extra crafts to share with friends and family. These activities are simple and designed for all ages to participate. Mark your calendars for a sacred morning that invites us all to work together to help another, to be in community as a church, and to celebrate the many gifts we have already received.

For singles and couples over the age of 50

Prime Time Advent Party Sun., Dec. 6, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.

at the home of Barbara Hauptfuhrer Enjoy hors d’oeuvres, beverages, and caroling. Bring an unwrapped gift for an infant - 18 year old to benefit the Brighter Holidays Project of Turning Points for Children. Register by Nov. 30 with check ($15 per person) payable to BMPC attn: Amy Bauer.

AmyBauer@bmpc.org, ext. 8821.

Christmas Angels

Helping Children and Families In Need

By Betty Wu

• Over the years, many children and families served by theVillage have received a bountiful Christmas in part through the generosity of BMPC members. Last year, church members helped many children and families including these: • A 17 year old girl whose family sought help following her suicide attempt • An 8 year old boy in foster care who is still talking about the mountain bike he received last year • A woman who left her husband after her 3 children witnessed significant abuse including trashing most of their belongings • A 12 year old boy, the oldest of 4 who is struggling following the death of his mother • A young mother of three who left her husband following ongoing abuse, who said, “My family is blessed to be receiving gifts and other necessities for Christmas Day” TheVillage programs are growing! Share the spirit of Christmas by adopting a family or sponsoring a child (5-8 gifts per child). Contact Betty Wu, 610-449-8059, efwu01@gmail.com (by Dec. 4 if possible) or stop by the Angel Trees in the Ministries Center and Education Building on Sunday mornings after 10:00 a.m. worship.

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Longest Night Service By the Rev. Dr. Agnes W. Norfleet

Join us on Monday night, December 21, at 7:00 p.m. for the Longest Night Service of Christmas carols, comforting and hopeful scripture readings, a brief meditation, and an extended time of prayer to lift to God our yearnings for healing and wholeness for ourselves and our world.

We acknowledge that while the holidays are filled with good cheer for many, for others they can bring a sense of grief and longing. Perhaps you have lost a loved one whom you especially miss at Christmas; or you shoulder worry for those for whom depression or illness bears a heavy load; or you ache with concern for those who live in the darkness of warfare, displacement, hunger and need. This service allows us to lift these concerns before a loving and gracious God, and to break the darkness by lighting candles of hope for a brighter tomorrow.

The history of observing the Longest Night takes us back thousands of years to the Bronze Age when places like Stonehenge were built to align with the winter solstice sunset to mark the longest night. With no electric lights to break the darkness, our ancestors were acutely aware of longer nights and shorter days. The tradition began on the longest night to build huge fires on mountaintops and in holy places. People danced around the flames and chanted songs to the sun’s glory, trying to awaken the sun again. Then the sun would rise, the days would gradually lengthen, and there would be great rejoicing in the invincible sun.

It was not by accident that the early Christians chose this time of the year to observe the birth of Christ. In the Fourth Century, in 354 AD, December 25th was chosen as the day to celebrate Christmas, which was intentionally placed after the longest night with the recognition that because the light of Christ has come into the world, the darkness is no longer a thing to be feared.

Join us on the Longest Night to lift prayers for one another and for the peace of the world. Come if you simply want more time singing carols in our beautiful Sanctuary. Come if you are traveling for Christmas and would enjoy evening worship with your church family before you leave town. Come alone, come together, come with friends, family, or neighbors for whom this Longest Night Service might be a welcomed worship opportunity of grace and peace.

Navigating the Holidays After Loss

By Lorie Benovic

Grief is a natural process, a universal experience which makes us human. Since it is a process that entails hard work over a period of many months or even years, the holidays can be an especially difficult time for those in sorrow. Those who are mourning the loss of a loved one to death, or slowly to illness, are fully aware that grief is not dictated by the calendar. Holiday festivities are a contrast to the darkness we feel inside, and the season can be a painful reminder of happier times with loved ones who are no longer with us.

Acknowledging that grief will change our experience of the holidays is healthy and promotes healing. We may have to adjust our expectations and allow more time to focus on our own needs for solitude, rest and quieter celebrations. It’s okay to pick and choose what we do according to our feelings, but we shouldn’t isolate ourselves, and we need to reach out to those we love. Plenty of rest, exercise and good food is also important as we adapt to a new reality and give ourselves time to navigate the emotional, spiritual and physical expressions of grieving. Our loss will always be part of us, and we need to give “Hope is a gift of the Spirit that allows the human sorrow its due, but it does not have spirit in time to live, love and learn again.” to define us and eventually, a new normal will emerge for celebrating during the holidays.

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Christmas Eve at 4:30

By Genevieve McCormack

The 4:30 p.m. Family Christmas Eve service at BMPC is our church’s best-attended service of the year for good reason. It is an hour of beauty, joy and wonder for all ages which captures the true magic of the birth of Christ. For me, it is an annual reminder of why I joined BMPC and why I love it still.

I first attended with my daughter Hadley at Christmas 2005. Hadley was one-year-old and dressed in a flouncy plaid dress with a little red bow in her hair. My husband stayed home with our son Ted, who had a cold.

Stepping into the Narthex that first Christmas at BMPC was like receiving a warm hug. Though the Sanctuary was literally packed to the rafters, a kind usher found us a spot next to friendly parishioners. Hadley and I marveled at the songs, the procession of the Magi, and the story of the miracle so well known to me which my daughter was hearing for the first time. My favorite moment was the singing of Silent Night, when the lights were dimmed and the pews alight with hundreds of candles, raised with the collective wish to “sleep in heavenly peace.” It gave me chills.

That service inspired us. My family became members of BMPC, and our third child was baptized here. I joined committees and helped with Bible camp as my children attended Sunday School; my husband served as a trustee.

But the single, crucial and consistent thread has been the 4:30 Christmas Eve service, which we have never missed. Ten years after that first Christmas at BMPC, all of our children attend and participate in the service.

For several years, our children sang in the choir and basked in the glowing excitement of the music. One year, as a family, we lit a candle on the advent wreath, and our then-five-year-old daughter Campbell said a prayer.

Two years ago when the service ended, a gentle flurry of snowflakes surrounded the hundreds of children as they streamed out of the Sanctuary doors. Last year, under the direction of Pastor Rachel Pedersen, our son Ted was a prophet, Hadley read a Bible passage, and Campbell was an angel of the heavenly host. And every year without fail, I still get chills when I hear the chorus of Silent Night and the upswept candles in hands young and old remind me of the hope, and the promise, and the miracle of Christmas.

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Your Hunger Envelopes at Work

By Bill Matthai

We care about those who cannot obtain adequate food for themselves. With an overall poverty rate of 25%, Philadelphia is the poorest big city (population over one million) in the country. Areas like West Philadelphia and Chester are the second poorest and hungriest in the United States. To help address these issues, our Hunger Committee partners with local organizations to provide non-perishable food, direct financial support, and prepared dishes.

University City Hospitality Coalition (UCHC) is a major recipient of our outreach and receives more prepared food than any other organization we support. An independent non-profit group with 501(c)(3) status, it was founded in 1984 by local students, residents, and clergy after a homeless man froze to death after falling asleep near 38th Street in West Philadelphia. UCHC’s initial offering was one “meal of hospitality” weekly, but it has grown to provide hot meals five evenings a week and a bag lunch one other day at religious institutions in University

City. On average, 55 people are served dinner, although that number can be much larger, especially on Wednesday evenings when medical, legal, dental, and social work clinics are offered. In addition, UCHC also provides mail service and toiletries distribution.

BMPC provides time, talent, and treasure to support UCHC’s efforts. Rick Hamilton and Gwen Thamm are on the UCHC Board, and our Hunger Committee provides a grant of about $6600 annually. Of perhaps most importance, the casseroles made so lovingly in our Saturday casserole blitzes –with a goal of at least 1600 per year - supply most of the hot food served by UCHC. Each casserole feeds 10 people, and we deliver 80 casseroles to UCHC each month. The labor is free, but the cost of about $15,000/year for ingredients comes from our Hunger Committee, which is funded by donations to the white Hunger envelopes found in our pews. Through your continued support, we are helping to provide hot meals to some of those in West Philadelphia who are most in need.

Come to a Casserole Blitz December 19 • January 23 • February 20 • March 12 • April 16

What’s A Casserole Blitz?

Our Hunger Committee schedules “blitzes” in our main kitchen next to Congregational Hall each month, which involve: • Dozens of pounds of recipe ingredients, paid for by contributions to our hunger envelopes • At least 30 people (age 5 and up) chopping, stirring, cooking, pouring, mixing, and filling disposable pans • 140 casseroles completed between 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. and transported downstairs to fill our freezers • Hundreds of meals delivered and consumed by the hungry in Philadelphia and Chester Want to help? Contact Sandie Nicholson, sandiekev@verizon.net, 610-240-7799.

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Don’t Just Volunteer

By Carol Schmidt

A recent article in Christian Century suggests that we’ve got it all wrong when we ask for “volunteers.” Pastor Adam Copeland suggests that instead of volunteering we are being called to “ministry.”

Is this strictly semantics, or is it really important? What do you think? Have you participated in a Day of Service here at BMPC? How did it feel? Did you feel like you were “volunteering” or doing a “ministry?”

During this fall’s stewardship season we were reminded of how our monetary gifts and offerings allow us to invest in the ministry and mission of this congregation. But we are called as well to invest our time and relationships in the mission partnerships that we nurture at BMPC. Participating in days of service is not so much a moment to do for someone else what they cannot do for themselves, but rather to do something together with one another as a church community side by side with our mission partners. This is the ministry of the church.

Jesus asks that we witness to God’s love. Author Shane Claiborne says, “The more I get to know Jesus, the more trouble he seems to get me into.” Why not feel this call and mark your calendar for Saturday, January 23, our next day of service. Details will be announced soon with opportunities for all ages and all abilities. Bring your children so they can see what serving is all about. We’re not asking for volunteers – we’re hoping you will feel the call!

Response to Syria By the Rev. Rebecca Kirkpatrick As images of the Syrian Refugee Crisis have filled the media, the Presbyterian Church (USA) has responded and engaged in partnership with the Synod of Syria and Lebanon and Presbyterian Disaster Assistance to find the most helpful ways to assist those who find their way as refugees in the United States as well as those who continue to live in limbo in refugee camps in the Middle East and Europe. PDA recently sent a gift of $75,000 to set up schools in the refugee camps located in Lebanon.

Presbyterian World Mission also works in partnership with the Synod, sending Mission Co-Workers Revs. Scott and Elmarie Parker, who serve as regional liaisons in the area. They work closely with members of the Synod, walking this difficult journey together through war and displacement. Scott recently shared this reflection after spending time in one of the refugee camps: “The first thing is, people here just want to be free. They have families they want to take care of; land they want to preserve; homes. Leaving their homes and land is a huge statement; it means they have no hope to stay.

Even in Lebanon, most Lebanese Christians don’t see a lot of future in terms of jobs, education, raising children or in being a professing Christian. Land and place are so important to people in the Middle East. I met a couple from Kirkuk Iraq, and the man told me, ‘I have been turned from my soil.’ It breaks your heart, but we can be present with them as they mourn and consider their next steps.”

The Worldwide Ministries Council at BMPC has begun a conversation with those interested in connecting with the work that the PC(USA) is doing in Syria. We hope to discern together how our congregation can respond to this crisis. Contact RebeccaKirkpatrick@bmpc.org, ext. 8818 to find out more about this response.

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American Christian Women:

Leading the Way in Loving the Neighbor Led by Dr. Jon Pahl November 29, December 6, 13, 20, 11:15 a.m.

This fall as we continue to explore our calling by Christ to love God and to love our neighbors as ourselves, we welcome back Dr. Jon Pahl to share with us about the ways that American Christian women have paved the way for mission and social justice work in our communities and local congregations. As we consider the ways we can love our neighbor today, we give thanks for the women who have come before us and given us a model for service.

explore the historical contributions of about a dozen women who led their communities and American culture toward greater peace and justice. Building on the biographies in Catherine Brekus’ book The Religious History of American Women, and supplementing the class with primary sources, Dr. Pahl will introduce and deepen our familiarity with those sisters-in-the-spirit who have led the way in loving our neighbor over the past three centuries.

On any given Sunday, for well over two centuries, more than 60% of the people in church pews in the U.S. are female. Or, as Harvard’s Ann Braude put it: “American religious history IS women’s history.” This class will

Life Transitions

Led by Patricia Danzan, Spiritual Director, Middleton Center January 10, 17, 24, 31; 11:15 a.m.

In his book Transitions: Making Sense of Life’s Changes, William Bridges makes the distinction between “change” and “transition.” Change refers to external events such as change in work or career, change in relationships (e.g. loss of a spouse) or moving to a new home. Transition refers to the internal adjustments that accompany external change. Transition may be triggered by external changes or, conversely, internal transition may itself cause external change. It is often experienced as confusing or painful. It involves both endings and a search for new beginnings and often also a “no-man’s land” in between.

The internal process of transition will be the focus of a Sunday class in January in Witherspoon Parlor. BMPC member Patricia Danzon, who has a Master of Arts in Holistic Spirituality and Spiritual Direction from Chestnut Hill College and is a Spiritual Director at the Middleton Center, will draw on Bridges’ book to frame the issues. We’ll examine biblical stories of journey as well as spiritual writings and practices from Christian and Jewish faith traditions that are relevant to life transitions. No matter what kind of transition you are experiencing, we invite you to join us.

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Mission Trip to Mexico

By Carolyn Gerrish

Four members of BMPC’s Worldwide Ministries’ group, and several from the First Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia, recently went to experience firsthand the good works of ConeXión Mosaico, a 2014 Schaull Award recipient and our current mission partner in Mexico City. ConeXión Mosaico is dedicated to improving the lives of the urban poor, the rapid growth of which poses a significant challenge in the 21st century. Along with poverty, the urban poor often struggle with a spiritual void, civil injustice, domestic violence, and with the lack of a sense of community.

Using a holistic approach, ConeXión Mosaico seeks to address all of these areas of need. For example, one arm of their program is dedicated to planting house churches for regular worship which transform by inspiring hope, faith, and a sense of connectedness via God’s love. Through another arm, they seek to build relationships so that the community joins together in solving a given problem, which in turn helps bring about sustainable change.

Over the course of two event-packed days, we met with community leaders and were incredibly moved by their joy in what they had accomplished with their neighbors and by their deep gratitude for ConeXión Mosaico’s guidance and spiritual nourishment. We saw:

Top: At the site of a future community center built entirely by community

• A soccer field where the community had volunteers; Bottom: worshiping together on Sunday morning in a house church successfully negotiated with the municipality to use the land for youth-led soccer games to help keep them in school and away from drugs • Excavation where the groundwork was being laid for getting running water to homes • Two young women who started a business together after meeting via a community leadership group • A newly remodeled school where follow-up health training led to fewer illnesses and improved school attendance • The early construction phase of a community center with community members working together to build it Finally, we participated in home worship services where we heard the community’s daily struggles and saw their incredible faith and optimism.

We experienced this and so much more. We left feeling in awe of God’s work through our ministry partner and these people. We left transformed—enriched in our faith and in our commitment to the church’s goal to “serve and leaven the church, community and wider world though compassionate and empowering ministries” (BMPC Mission Statement, 1997).

Visiting with a secondary school teacher in his classroom which recently received wireless internet through the advocacy of the community members 17 MESSENGER | Advent/Christmas 2015

Senior Happenings

By Janet White

Our Senior Adults Council has been busy planning a variety of activities along with creating “Senior Happenings,” our new monthly email newsletter to share interesting and educational activities for our seniors.

On September 17, 20 of us traveled by bus to the Presbyterian Historical Society, the oldest denominational historical society in the U.S. A collection representing the history of American Presbyterianism has been compiled, preserved and shared here, and we particularly enjoyed seeing materials about BMPC’S history. We then visited the nearby Colonial Churchyard at Old Pine Street Church, where Ron Shaefer shared stories about famous people buried there since the church was founded in 1768.

On October 7, Robert Jaeger from Partners for Sacred Place was our guest to explain how Sacred Places helps congregations with older religious properties make the most of them as civic assets. A walking tour of four of Philadelphia’s Sacred Places churches is planned for the spring.

Two “Senior Happenings” are just ahead: on Sunday, November 15, our “Living Legacy Series” continues with the Rev. Drs. Margaret Anne Fohl and William Arnold as our guest speakers. On Wednesday, November 18, Finnish-American pianist Marja Kaisla presents a concert commemorating the 150th anniversary of the birth of the musician Jean Sibelius.

Watch for the next “Senior Happenings” in your e-mail or pick up a copy in the Court.

To subscribe, contact JaneWilber@bmpc.org.

Sharing Care at BMPC

By Janney Ryan

Our Congregational Care Ministry provides an organized way of caring for church members’ needs by nurturing the body, mind and spirit in health and illness; equipping members to serve each other; praying for and with each other; and providing care and compassion to our members and their families.

Through its many programs, BMPC’s Congregational Care Council (as part of our Deacons’ ministry) extends care and support by offering: • Healthy, packaged dinners for home-bound members • “Helping Hands” to welcome and assist members as they arrive and depart from buses and cars in front of the church on Sunday mornings • Transportation to and from doctors’ appointments • “Communion to the Farthest Pew,” embraced by deacons who deliver communion to the home-bound • Ushers for memorial services • Support and refreshments for the Blessing of the Animals • Cards and personal messages for delivery to the home bound at Thanksgiving • A festive annual Christmas party for “Prime Time” BMPC members, age 50+ If you are interested in joining us in our efforts to extend care or know someone in our church family who might benefit from these ministries, contact Janney Ryan, janneyryan610@gmail.com, 610-682-1352.

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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 #118, Issue #1 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

Christmas Eve Schedule 4:30 p.m. Family Service with Nativity Tableau 8:30 p.m. Candlelight Service with Communion and Meditation 11:00 p.m. Candlelight Service of Lessons & Carols with Meditation The Annual Youth Alumni Reunion will be held at 9:30 p.m. in Witherspoon Parlor Joy to the world. The Lord is Come!

Inclement Weather Policy If the church closes due to inclement weather and unsafe travel conditions, notice will be provided on our website, www.bmpc.org, and with a recorded message at the main church phone number, 610-525-2821.

Decisions to cancel scheduled BMPC programs will be made by the person in charge of the ministry area. These decisions are distinct from decisions to close the BMPC offices. For information, contact the respective person in charge.