If there is one aspect of the Christian faith that has embedded itself into my being, one truth that I return to again and again, it is this: Nothing we have is our own. Everything is a gift from God.
It is indeed a gift from God to be your new Associate Pastor for Pastoral Care and Senior Adults. Since I officially began this journey with you on June 10, I have been overwhelmed by your warm receptivity and kindness. Whether it has been at a meeting, after worship, or passing in the hallways, my interactions with each one of you has demonstrated the welcoming posture of this community.
My priority over the coming months is to listen and learn. I desire to grow in my understanding of Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church and, in particular, the ministries of Pastoral Care and Senior Adults. I hope to meet with many of you and hear about your experiences and visions for this place. Perhaps most of all, I pray that through these conversations and learnings we will collectively begin to see where God is calling us forward.
To this end, I want to ask a favor: When you see me in the hallway or after worship, please come up and say hello. If there is something you believe I need to know, please tell me. I look forward to getting to know each of you and learning how God is at work in your life.
Since I am asking you to share parts of your life with me, it seems fair that I offer parts of my life with you. I am a strong believer in the ministry of pastoral care, both as something to be received and as something to offer another person. Every person has the capacity to give and receive pastoral care. Further, I believe pastoral care is best done in the context of relationships.
Outside of my work here at Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church, I enjoy reading, learning and spending time near the water. My wife Amy and I have been married for five years, and we previously were members of Wayne Presbyterian Church. Amy works in West Philadelphia at The Helms Academy, where she coordinates the education of individuals seeking to earn their GED.
It is a gift from God to be your new Associate Pastor for Pastoral Care and Senior Adults. I am grateful for your hospitality and openness, and I look forward to journeying with you into the future.
