Through the years, I’ve been blessed by friendships with several clergy mentors, from whom I have learned many of those churchy things that don’t get taught in seminary. Among them, the best teacher for stewardship was the late K.C. Ptomey, who chose autumn as the season to retire so he could preach through yet another Stewardship Season at his beloved Westminster Presbyterian Church in Nashville. Nearing the end of a long and distinguished career in ministry, K.C. enjoyed being plain-spoken and honest about the need for his congregation to support the church with their financial resources.
Pastors’ Column
Each week one of our pastors or staff members writes a column observing what is going on in our congregation, the Church and the world, and offering reflections on the Christian life and faith. Through this series of columns, we hope to connect your and our story to the enduring story of Christ; to offer pastoral reflections on our ongoing congregational life and mission; to report on news of the Presbyterian Church and Church universal; and to invite further reflection and deeper discipleship. We welcome your comments and suggestions. In other words, our words here are an invitation to continue the conversation.
“It will be better than Gordon Ramsey’s!” The statement was definitive and expressed a level of confidence I would not usually extend to bulk garlic powder, dried parsley, onion salt, and plain butter. However, with the energy that can only come from 4th and 5th-grade workers, the ingredients combined into what became incredible garlic butter. Similarly, ingredients were layered to create trays of lasagna, and the cookie dough was measured to fill four cookie sheets with neat round balls, just waiting to be baked.
One of my favorite things I get to do here at Bryn Mawr Presbyterian is to join the Deacons’ Helping Hands team as they are stationed in front of the sanctuary to greet and assist folks coming to worship. It is not easy for some to get from the circle drive and navigate their way into the sanctuary to find their pew. The Helping Hands team is there to offer some joyful assistance, and Sunday by Sunday, they get to have brief conversations with some of our older members who are delighted to be coming to worship even with the challenges they face.
The feast day of Saint Francis of Assisi officially takes place on the 4th of October. Here at BMPC, we observe it on the first Sunday of October. Traditionally, Presbyterians are not in the business of celebrating too many saints. However, BMPC has always had a fondness for Saint Francis, even going so far as to place him in the stained glass of our chapel windows. The image is familiar--a simple man, tonsured, dressed in plain brown robes, and surrounded by animals. This Sunday at 4:00 p.m., dogs, cats, lizards, and more will pass by his window on their way to the Blessing of the Animals on the front lawn of the Education Building. All animals are welcome, though our local groundhogs and garden snakes tend to avoid the crowds. Together, we will praise God and give thanks for the creatures of God’s good earth, but there is more to Saint Francis’ story and more to Sunday’s observations.
The upcoming November election is a critical moment of decision in our national history. The Community Forum, free and open to the public, is an important programmatic offering for our church and community this coming Monday night, September 30, at 7:00 pm in the Sanctuary. Dr. Robert Talisse, Philosophy Professor at Vanderbilt University, will address “Our Polarization Problem.”
One of my favorite new fall traditions here at BMPC is our big September food drive. Modeled after our longstanding annual Souper Bowl of Caring collection that takes place in February, we all have the opportunity in the fall to fill the Narthex on a Sunday morning with donations of non-perishable items that are whisked away to our local food pantries supporting them in supporting their communities.
This summer, the church has been phenomenal in bringing in non-perishable items each week as our local pantries here in Lower Merion have had the number of guests double this season.
This Sunday, September 22, all the donations you bring to church will be taken a little further away to four of our sister Presbyterian Churches who run food pantries out of their buildings.
In October 2005, I formed a new choir at BMPC. Singing for Life (S4L) was envisioned as a musical group for singers of all experiences, age 55+. Why Singing for Life? I was concerned that we were not offering musical outlets for singers who perhaps no longer felt comfortable driving at night or could not meet the rigorous demands of the Sanctuary Choir. Within just a few rehearsals, it was clear that S4L was here to stay!
- The Vital Significance of Befriending Strangers
- Safe, Sound, Whole, Well
- Big Shoes to Fill
- Blessing the Backpacks
- Welcome Andy Greenhow to Youth Ministry!
- “Canticles of Praise”
- The Creatures All Around Us
- What has Value?
- Youth Mission Trip to Peru
- A Decent Purpose
- Vacation Bible Camp
- BMPC’s Work Toward Belonging and Inclusion
- Invitation to Travel with the Choir to France June 13-24, 2025
- Thank God for Theologians
- All Creatures Great and Small
- Streaming Good News
- Pentecost Sunday
- Advocating for Change
- Confirmation Expo 2024
- Earth Day Should Be Everyday