Many of you have met my dear sister Julie. She was born with a congenital heart problem, and as a toddler, was electrocuted in a terrible accident. As a result, Julie has lived her life under the care of my parents. She is sheer joy, always looking at life with the most positive of attitudes and a delicious sense of humor. She loves visiting us in Philadelphia and especially enjoys attending BMPC services during those visits!
In the midst of all the negative ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic, there is at least one bright point – that of virtual offerings, be they Facebook Live concerts, classes, evening vespers or Sunday worship services. With the first broadcast of a Sunday service on March 15, 2020, my sister arguably became BMPC’s biggest online cheerleader. Week after week, whether watching a Sunday service or a virtual concert, Julie is usually the first to sign on to the broadcast and definitely one of the most prolific writers of appreciative comments! “Great Service!” “Agnes had a great sermon!” “Frank had a great prayer!” Or my favorite, “Wow, that postlude was awesome, big brother!”
This spring, Julie was diagnosed with two forms of cancer, a very tough diagnosis, to say the least. Shortly after the diagnosis I traveled to Iowa to be with her for a week of tests and meetings with physicians. When Sunday morning rolled around, Julie said, “Are you coming to watch the service?!” Of course! Bryn Mawr’s recorded service had just been released! So we gathered around her iPad to watch it. Midway through the service, my father came into the kitchen and asked, “What are you two up to?” Julie glared at him and said, “Ssshhh, Dad, Agnes is preaching! Come back after the postlude!”
Thanks to the pandemic, BMPC’s long-range plans for broadcasting services became a matter of great urgency. Thanks to this technology, people like my sister, living 1,200 miles away from Bryn Mawr, can be spiritually nourished, encouraged and supported. Indeed, many former members now scattered about the country, have written to express their great appreciation for BMPC’s outreach through video streaming. This is truly something to celebrate!
BMPC will begin livestreaming the 10:00 a.m. worship service on Sunday, June 6. You are invited to view these services via BMPC’s Facebook page: www.facebook.com/brynmawrpres, the BMPC YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/user/brynmawrpres or the livestream page on the church website: www.bmpc.org/livestream.
