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.
The stories of the first Christmas are about the present as well as the past, and that is why we offer the congregation so many worship services this week, so that in various ways and with different tones our church family can celebrate the coming of Jesus in Bethlehem and the coming of Jesus in our hearts today.
Of all the richness of our Advent lessons, one of my favorite is what we call the Annunciation, the passage from the first chapter of Luke in which the angel Gabriel comes to Mary and tells her that in God’s plan for humankind, she is to give birth to a son she will name Jesus, who will be called “the Son of the Most High.” Perplexed, amazed, afraid, Mary asks this messenger of God how all this can be, “since I am a virgin.”
Earlier this week, getting dressed for work with the Today show on in the background, I heard someone crooning "Silent Night, Holy Night, All is Calm, All is Bright." My kneejerk reaction was, “No! Not yet! We have a few more weeks to go!”
I have an especially grateful heart as we look ahead to Thanksgiving this year. Sarah and I continue to be overjoyed as we expect our first child in March. I’m also grateful for the Thanksgiving Pancake Breakfast that we are able to enjoy with such a wonderful congregation.
Once a month, we welcome children into the family of God through the sacrament of Baptism. We have the privilege of coming alongside parents and promising to help some of the youngest in our congregation grow in faith and in love.
I've been membership director at BMPC for more than 20 years, so if anyone is going to describe who we are as a congregation, it might as well be me.
One of the greatest privileges of being a church musician is that of providing music for memorial services. During my tenure at Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church I have provided music for more than 1,500 memorial services.
