Pastors’ Column

The Rev. Crawford Brubaker has long been a “PK,” a pastor’s kid. The son of former BMPC associate pastor, the Rev. Pattie Kitchen, he first came to our church as a 10 year old in 1993. Along with his younger siblings, Ben and Elizabeth, he spent the next 12 years immersed in the busy life of our congregation.

M. Courtenay Willcox lives out her life's priorities of family, faith and environmental concerns in her activities and involvements. A recent graduate of United Lutheran Seminary in Philadelphia, she received a Master of Divinity degree in May. As a cradle Presbyterian, Courtenay is a former Moderator of the Presbytery of Philadelphia and served on the Presbytery’s Commission on Ministry. She has preached in more than 30 local congregations as a Commisioned Ruling Elder in this Presbytery.

Even though the Rev. Dr. Graham Robinson lived in Philadelphia for just over a decade, the grace of God embodied by BMPC has reverberated through his life. When studying at Bucknell University, a BMPC pastor came to campus and told him what his father said before he left for college. They both stated, “You would be a great minister.”

The Rev. Dr. Paul G. Watermulder is a child of this church, having joined in 1962 when the family, including his mother, Ruth, brother, Peter, and sister, Martha, moved from Illinois into the manse and his father, David, became senior pastor at BMPC. This congregation is at the heart of his spiritual formation. So many church leaders were great examples; the stained glass brought awe and wonder before God; youth groups brought camaraderie and leadership; church life taught a zeal for mission especially among the poor; through it all came an abiding affection for Jesus Christ and high respect for His Church. This is “home” in many ways.

I doubt there is any way for me to adequately express my delight at becoming the new Associate Pastor for Youth and Their Families here at Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church! Since my first day in July, I have felt welcomed and affirmed in my call to serve Jesus here, and I am so thankful to become a part of the BMPC family. Walking alongside young people as they grow is a profound privilege, one that I do not take for granted.

Twenty-one years ago, I joined Singing City Choir, first as associate conductor and one year later, as Music and Artistic Director. From the very beginning of my tenure with this august group – founded in 1948 as one of the first integrated choirs in America – I have felt the resonance between its passion for social justice and BMPC’s wonderful focus on outreach and mission. As with BMPC, every decision Singing City makes is driven by those passions.