Welcome
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.
Can we say all of the Apostles’ Creed without crossing our fingers at some parts? It’s the oldest of our statements of faith, first used as a baptismal confession beginning in the second century. It’s also one of the most recited creeds in the wider Christian faith. Many of us know it by heart; which makes it one of the most beloved and insufferable things we say in church.
A member of a former congregation said to me once, “I do not know what I would have done if I had not been invited to visit this church many years ago. It has become my home, my extended family, and I have long marveled at the ways this community has deepened my relationship with God.”
“It’s not what we expected.” It wasn’t the first day of kindergarten we thought it would be. It wasn’t the retirement we had hoped. It wasn’t the birth we had planned. It wasn’t the funeral he deserved. In the end, the outcome doesn’t match the glossy photos we had imagined months before; and yet, here we are. We are living in this familiar-yet-different world where expectations are turned on their head, and plans are in constant motion. It’s not an easy place to be, and yet, here we are.
Early last week I met with BMPC’s Youth Chorale on the front steps of the Sanctuary. We all came with a mask and our own lunch and were ready to catch up and see how our lives have changed in the past few months and what we anticipate the next few months might look like.
For almost 50 years, my parents have been attending a weekend retreat at the Pittsburgh Presbytery’s Camp and Conference Center on Labor Day weekend - every year, never missing. That is until this year.
The present pandemic has brought to the forefront the myriad ways society is connected. No nation, community or people group has been immune from this deadly virus. We wear masks because we may inadvertently spread the virus to someone else. We deny the temptation to hoard supplies so that others may have access to materials that can keep them safe. We forgo the familiar rhythms of life in an effort to keep others healthy. We have radically adjusted our lives because we care for others.
Like many 20-year-olds navigating college and transitioning into adult life, I was looking for a summer internship. Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church seemed like the perfect place for me to work. I grew up participating in programs that BMPC offered and continued my faith journey into college. This summer, I was looking to discern if ministry was a career I wanted to pursue. Given the circumstances, I felt incredibly lucky to be offered a summer intern position with BMPC Youth Ministry. Summertime is usually filled with many fantastic opportunities to build fellowship for all our youth. We had plans to visit the beloved Camp Kirkwood twice this summer with different age groups, go on a mission trip to Mexico with our high school students, and so much more!
