Introduction to Worship

This Sunday we will celebrate two milestones in the life of the church.  We will welcome Peyton, Cameron, and Tierney as new siblings in Christ through baptism, and over in the chapel, we will welcome our 2- and 3-year-olds to explore the chapel with their parents.

This annual event begins with parents and students moving around the chapel looking for things that are beautiful, surprising, soft, warm, cold, and more. You’d be surprised by what they find! Pebbles and leaves tracked in on a rainy November morning, a forgotten glove, a pair of glasses- they will be found!  At the same time, tiny fingers trace the carvings in woodwork, occasionally faces are pressed into the cold stone, little hands try to hold up the BIG bible, and there are a few giggles as friends test out the pastor’s seats.

We gather at the front of the chapel where we retell and reenact the story of Samuel in the temple.  Hilarious snores and wide eyes help convey the moment when you awake in the middle of the night. Faces showing worry and wonder look around, imagining where the voice is coming from.  Eventually, all of our students find a place for a nap, and parents gently call them awake, whispering their names.  “Chloe, Chloe!”  “Ben, Ben!” “Aya, Aya!” and tiny feet race to their grown-ups. Of course, we end singing a few songs and enjoying a Joyful Feast of Goldfish in the children’s chapel before a final prayer sends us out into the world.

Looking at the chapel through their eyes, I see the space in a new way each year.  The care given to each pew as information is arranged and rearranged so that cards are ready for the next visitor or member.  The details of the vine and grapes tracing up the legs of the communion table. The delight as colored light dances across old stone floors and three-year-olds proudly announce each color they recognize. While I see the chapel in a new way, I also experience worship in a new way. We follow the same four-fold pattern: gathering, listening, responding, and sending. Our gathering is joyful and courageous, and God’s people find their way together. Our listening is holy. Our youngest students hear the story directly through their own experiences. They know what it means to wake up at night uncertain and what grown-ups sound like when they send you back to bed.  They are willing to wait in the quiet, wondering what God’s voice might sound like. The story takes root in another generation. Our response is familiar, as napkins become tables and a shared snack becomes almost sacramental. I love watching children worry that everyone has something, and through their dedication, even the most reluctant parents will have at least one or two tiny fish. Our sending is simple—parents and children give one another a blessing, and they walk out together.

Gathering, listening, responding, and sending, another generation adds their voice, praising God, sharing their insights into God’s word, and sharing their wonder and joy with the Body of Christ.

A Historic Moment

On November 8, BMPC welcomes back former Pastor and Head of Staff Agnes W. Norfleet. For thirteen years, this community of faith was blessed by her vision and preaching, bright mind, and administrative skill. During her tenure, a significant capital project also took place that added the Atrium, renovated the Education Building, and transformed the campus. When combined with her deep faith, stewardship encouragement of our members, and the loving support of her family, Agnes strengthened BMPC in ways that will bear fruit for years to come.  

During her visit on Sunday, Agnes will preach at the 10:00 a.m. service and then, along with her husband Larry, unveil the oil portrait of her that will grace this campus moving forward. Her visage will join that of five predecessors who, when combined with her tenure, served BMPC for 70% of its existence. She, of course, was the first woman in that role, which makes the addition of her portrait historic and significant on multiple levels. Ultimately, her portrait will join those of the other former pastors on the hallway wall shared with the BMPC Gallery. An interpretive sign is currently posted next to where her painting will ultimately live.         

Join us that morning as we are blessed by her words again during worship and then at the unveiling and reception in Congregational Hall. It promises to be a special day to celebrate a significant chapter in BMPC’s long history and the one who led us so well through it.      

Requiem aeternam

It is no secret that I’m a big fan of architecture, and specifically, ecclesiastical architecture. Grand old spaces (like our Sanctuary) stand as a testament to our faith, a witness to our values and theology, and a profound space through which our lives journey, even as it stays consistent and, more or less, the same (maybe just with LED lights, now…). I am frequently amazed at how church weaves through our everyday lives, from providing a framework for exploring the liturgical seasons, to helping us navigate the complexity of society and the “outside world,” to celebrating life’s greatest joys, and to being there in times of deep sorrow. Each year, we have the distinct privilege to honor and remember those who have gone before us to their eternal rest (translated as “Requiem aeternam” in Latin) on All Saints’ Day, November 1. This year, November 1 falls on a Sunday, making the occasion a little more special.  

In keeping with our pattern, the Sanctuary Choir presents Eleanor Daley’s sublime and haunting Requiem, whose movements will be sung throughout the 10:00 a.m. worship service. A prominent Canadian composer, Daley was commissioned to write a work and ultimately chose to compose a Requiem upon learning the commissioner was caring for a terminally ill loved one at the time. Alongside texts for the Requiem Mass, Daley used other liturgical sources such as the Book of Psalms, the Book of Revelation, The Burial Service, and one line from the Missa pro defunctis.

I focus on the text, Requiem aeternam, since it bookends this incredible work. The same haunting words and musical opening find us at the closing. Between the opening and closing, we’ll have shared in the Sacrament of Communion; we’ll have sung hymns and heard a message from the pulpit; we’ll have read aloud the names of those who have died this year. And yet, the same words apply. The same building holds our joys and sorrows. The same space will do so for years to come, as it has done for almost a century. 

Commitment Sunday is Here!

In recent weeks, you’ve heard about October 25, Commitment Sunday at BMPC. Earlier this month, you received a letter that included a commitment card for 2027. The sermons over the last two weeks have spoken of essential aspects of our lives as faithful stewards of God’s abundance. Four days ago, Elliot Dee and Dave Reiner, co-chairs of our Stewardship Committee, offered a Ministry Moment explaining what will happen on Commitment Sunday. Now, we are only days away.

Although this will be my first time sharing this annual occasion with you, this year’s approach is different from past ones at BMPC. The commitment card provides a way for you to indicate your best intentions for giving of time, talents, and treasures in the next twelve months. The encouragement to consider taking a step forward in the sharing of your financial gifts may be a new component as well. And then, there is the process itself.

On Sunday, you will be invited to come forward during either worship service. At 8:00 a.m., it will happen prior to receiving Communion, where you can place your card in the offering plate, as is our usual practice. At 10:00 a.m., it will occur during the singing of the second hymn, when you can place the card in a basket just in front of the chancel steps. For those at the latter service who prefer not to walk forward, you can place the card in the offering plate moments later. And for all who have shared their plans online, you can still present another card, adding a personal note to our Director of Finance!

I look forward to sharing that morning with you as, once again, BMPC Gives to the Glory of God.

Celebration Sunday

There is a lot to celebrate at Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church, and it’s worthwhile remembering that. This Sunday, we’re taking time to reflect on all the things we have to celebrate. We are welcoming new members, celebrating the gifts of the congregation through stewardship season, and much more.

This Sunday is a “Surprise Sabbath” for our elementary students. Our typical lesson plan is left behind so that students have the opportunity to practice sabbath together. We’ll explore ways of praying, resting, celebrating, and giving. Last year we celebrated birthdays together—but this year we are pausing to celebrate the many milestones and experiences our community shares—baptisms and babies, graduations and new beginnings, anniversaries and endurance. We will decorate special cakes as a way to “rejoice with one another” and can’t wait to share them with the congregation.

Finally, we are especially excited about celebrating with one of our sixth graders, Elliette Long, who is coming to the end of her pediatric cancer treatment. You’ve probably seen those beautiful videos on social media of people ringing a bell at the end of their treatment. But why ring one bell when you have access to a whole carillon? So our congregational celebration will be crowned with a special performance by Elliette on the carillon as we share in the joy of this milestone. You can even go up and tour it yourself following the performance.

Paul tells us in Romans to celebrate with those who celebrate. There’s a lot of sadness and pain in the world, but there is still so much for which to be joyful. Join us this Sunday after the 10:00 worship service for cake, tea, and scones (Elliette’s favorite), special music, new friends, and the joy of community. It is good that we get to do life together.

Best Kept Secrets

We have a treasure right here on our campus: Surrey Services for Seniors. In case you read that line and think it doesn’t apply to you, I invite you to keep reading, because I imagine that someone you love could benefit from knowing a little more about Surrey, perhaps in a life-giving way.

On October 18, Jill Whitcomb, the President and CEO of Surrey, will present on the topic “Helping Older Adults Thrive” during our 11:15 education hour. Even if you yourself are not 55 years of age or older, you likely have a family member, neighbor, coworker, or friend who may be able to benefit from Surrey’s services. Prior to the presentation, I invite you to visit the Surrey website, familiarize yourself with their programs, and come to the presentation ready to help make connections on behalf of yourself or the older adults in your life and utilize their many programs.

For example, the church regularly receives calls asking if we can provide transportation for those unable to drive or who no longer wish to drive. While we cannot organize volunteers to provide rides for insurance and liability reasons, Surrey has a transportation program that can fill that very need–right on our campus! For a small fee, Surrey can provide rides that are geared towards seniors and others with mobility needs. Learn more about this program.

Transportation is just one example of how Surrey serves the community. Meals, grocery shopping, Medicare counseling, and other direct services are available as well. Did you know there are education, enrichment, and social activities? From estate planning to cognitive health, from exercise and wellness to arts and music, from crafts and games to an innovative training program for family caregivers, Surrey is a treasure trove of opportunities to help all older adults in our community thrive.

Surrey’s mission is to “empower older adults to embrace aging as a time of possibility, independence, and support.” I love this mission statement, precisely because it states the exact opposite of what society teaches us about life in our later years. Every age can be a time of growth, development, and thriving–and both our BMPC Senior Adult Council and Surrey Services are a wealth of resources to help older adults thrive in all the ways that the God of abundant life intends.

Hearing What You Said

As you know, the Session approved the Mission Study in September. When joined with the news that the Presbytery’s Commission on Ministry did the same, the BMPC Nominating Committee is now authorized to begin forming the Pastoral Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee is now accepting your suggestions for the PNC through October 18. Once a slate is finalized, there will be a congregational meeting to elect that team.

With the first step in the pastoral transition process now complete and the second one underway, we’d like to give you an opportunity to learn more about the Mission Study itself. While you have had access to that document through printed copies and on the website, and you may have spoken to a member of the Mission Study Task Force on your own, on Sunday, October 4 there will be a chance to hear directly from the group about their work.

The Session selected six BMPC members (Elliot Dee, Ariel Gonzalez, Peggy Gregg, Paul Gunther, Katie Hirt and Tom Willcox) to compose the task force. Those individuals worked tirelessly on your behalf, preparing a survey that nearly 500 of you completed and then reflected upon its results. They learned more about BMPC in terms of membership trends, finances, and the breadth of ministries offered here. They studied our congregation’s demographic composition, summarized the diverse perspectives you shared in the survey, and offered some conclusions from all that they discovered. It came together in an excellent document that offers recommendations for the PNC once it begins seeking your next Senior Pastor.

At the gathering on Sunday, members of the task force will speak about the Mission Study process, what they learned, and answer your questions. It all begins at 11:15 in Congregational Hall.  I hope you can be part of that conversation.

Be a Chorister for a Morning

For the Music and Fine Arts department, the program year kicked off last weekend with the return of the Sanctuary Choir. Right on the heels of that is the start of the Chorister Program, which will begin rehearsing on Wednesday, September 30. Before then, however, we have our Be a Chorister for a Morning program, which will follow the 10:00 a.m. service on Sunday, September 27.

Music can play an inestimable role in children’s lives and development. Of course, in a concrete sense, there are myriad studies showing the advantage kids have in school and on standardized tests if they’ve been involved in music during their developmental years, but there are also many more intangible benefits to music. Through music, kids learn the courage to perform in front of (and with) their peers, learning not only how to collaborate but also how to stand in front of a crowd with confidence. They learn the discipline to practice their musical lines until they’re perfect, while also giving themselves the grace to know that performances don’t always go as planned. Finally, music is intrinsically linked to community, providing an outlet for us to come together and express emotion, whether joy, sadness, pride, or vulnerability.

Here at Bryn Mawr, we are incredibly blessed with a thriving music program. We are immensely excited that, across the three levels of our Chorister Program, we already have over 40 young people signed up to learn to sing, praise God through song, and become even more involved in this wonderful faith community. If you are interested in having your child join the Chorister Program and would like to experience what it’s like before committing, everyone from PreK to 12th grade is welcome to come to Be a Chorister for a Morning, where we will have sample rehearsals, piano classes, liturgical education, all ending with a pizza lunch! To sign up, or if you have any questions, please contact me at MitchellMiller@bmpc.org.

The Next Step

Last week, the Session approved the Mission Study developed by a faithful team of your fellow members. At the same meeting, we learned the Commission on Ministry of the Presbytery of Philadelphia approved that document contingent on Session endorsement, which means the first phase of our transitional process has ended! You can find the Mission Study on the website and in printed form around the campus. On October 4, the Mission Study Task Force will speak about their findings as part of an after-worship gathering.  

Today, I want to name the most significant result of the Mission Study’s approval: namely, we can now start to form the Pastor Nominating Committee. The PNC will consist of 9 or 11 active members of BMPC who, guided by prayer and insights from the Mission Study, will begin the process of searching for, identifying, and then recommending to you BMPC’s next installed Senior Pastor. The PNC will be elected by the congregation, and thus, for three weeks starting September 27, you can pass along recommendations of members for that team.   

To help you understand more fully what it’s like to serve on a PNC, our Nominating Committee is hosting an event on Monday, September 28. At that gathering, individuals who were part of a previous PNC at BMPC will comprise a panel offering a behind-the-scenes look at their time of service. What were the blessings and challenges of that experience? What surprised them about the work? What impact did that time of service have on their faith and tie to BMPC? What kind of time commitment should members of the next PNC expect? 

The answers to those questions and others posed on the 28th are intended to enlighten all who gather that evening and help you make more informed suggestions to the Nominating Committee. It all begins at 7:00 p.m. in Fullerton. I hope you can join us!        

Rally Day

Our son Owen started his senior year of college just a few weeks ago. When he first left for school four years ago, I was a little worried, as all parents are, that it might take a while for him to find his “people.” So, we gave him the advice that most parents give, encouraging him to go to everything he could during those first few weeks. Accept every invitation to try something out. If they teased a free T-shirt, be there to get one. And for sure, BE at the activity fair in those early days of the fall semester so you can wander among the clubs and groups and see where you might fit.

That first semester, Owen went to the Wooster activity fair and left signed up with an audition to join the college’s tenor/bass a cappella group – Merry Kuween of Skots. Wooster is the “Fighting Scots,” which the name is a play on, and with six different creatively named a cappella groups on campus, I don’t ask questions.

This Sunday at BMPC, we will be hosting our own annual version of a campus activity fair – our Rally Day Ministry Fair in the gym following our 10 a.m. worship service. Every year you hear me encourage you to stop by the tables staffed by volunteers from all of our different and thriving ministry areas to find a new place of connection. And this year is no exception. Just like I have told Owen to be there to find his people, that is my advice for you all as well.

Here are just a few things that you might connect to this Sunday –

Stop by the Music and Fine Arts table and offer yourself as an usher for one of the wonderful concerts scheduled for this next year.

Visit the Children and Family Ministries table to learn more about what it means that members of the church will pray for over 500 children in our congregation this year.

Swing by the Youth Ministry Table to sign up to referee Minute to Win It activities at this December’s Rainbow Reindeer Games.

Pop over to the Caring Ministries Table to get information about making soup that can be taken by staff and Deacons to members during illness or recovery.

Say hello at the Adult Education table and sign up as a volunteer in Converse Library helping with reshelving books in our adult collection.

Spend some time at the Mission table assembling a personal care kit for this winter’s code blue shelter while you hear about our eight different mission committees.

Drop in at the Senior Adult table to learn more about the trips, programs and fellowship opportunities on the calendar for this next program year.

Make you way over to the Congregational Life table to learn more about being in a Connection Group.

This is just a snapshot of the ways that you can find to connect to the mission and ministry of our church in this next year, and by no means exhaustive.

Four years ago, we told Owen to show up, try something new, and trust that somewhere along the way he might find his people. I believe the church works much the same way. God often meets us through one another, in unexpected places and ordinary invitations. So come wander, wonder, and see where God might be calling you to belong.