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Pastors’ Column

photo showing part of a bible.

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.

Creating a Community Pollinator Garden

The Rev. M. Courtenay Willcox

This week’s Pastors’ Column is by lifelong BMPC member M. Courtenay Willcox who now serves as transitional pastor at Tree of Life Presbyterian Church in Springfield. 

Plant Native/Native Plant: Restoring Creation is an ongoing initiative of the Environmental Justice Committee at BMPC, supporting and drawing attention to the planting of native species on our church campus, in church members’ gardens, and in our communities. The importance of native species is echoed not just in garden clubs and botanical gardens, but by homeowners who can increase the number of native plants in their gardens while reducing the size of their lawn.

2023 Youth Summer Mission Trip

The Rev. Leigh DeVries

“When justice is done, it is joy to the righteous” (Proverbs 21:15a-b). Not only is justice a calling for us as Christians, but practicing justice brings us joy and understanding so that we might better live as Christ in the world. That was the theme for our recent Youth Mission Trip with CROSS Missions out of Myers Park Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Goodbye with Gratitude

The Rev. Brian K. Ballard

I tend to remember dates. Ask me when Amy and I had our first date and I can tell you the exact day and time (March 14, 2013 at 6:00 p.m.). Ask me when we adopted our cat or when Florence first walked and I do not need to open a calendar to tell you the precise moments (May 17, 2014 and November 5, 2022, respectively). If you were to approach me and say, “How long have you been at Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church,” I could answer quickly, “I started on June 10, 2019, or 1,494 days ago today.”

The Presbyterian Rebellion

The Rev. Dr. Franklyn Pottorff

This is always a good week to think about our country’s history, amidst the fireworks, cookouts, and national declarations. I suppose it’s in our blood as Presbyterians. Since the beginning of this American experiment, our denomination’s forbearers have always been engaged in the machinations of our self-governance. A courtier in service to King George III once referred to the Revolution as “the Presbyterian rebellion.”

Homiletics and Trauma

The Rev. Brian K. Ballard

Since announcing that I would be departing BMPC this summer to pursue a Ph.D. in Homiletics at Princeton Theological Seminary, several people have asked me variations on the same two questions:

  1. What is “homiletics”?
  2. What do you plan to research?

Building the City of God: Vacation Bible Camp 2023

The Rev. Rachel Pedersen

This morning before our first campers arrived, I took a moment to walk through the gym. Over the past week, our VBC campers have been building a city out of boxes. The tallest building stretches almost a story in height, the smallest building is a shoebox covered in tape, tucked between several other buildings — a house for children to play in. There are a few surprises — pieces of tape stretch between buildings — ziplines that let people move around the city; there is a hospital for fish, a gigantic trampoline, and a home for lost animals.

Summer Reading

The Rev. Rebecca Kirkpatrick

It’s that time of year when libraries, news organizations, book stores and schools publish lists of recommended “summer reads.” In that same spirit, I wanted to share with the whole church some of the books that our mission committee members have added to their summer reading lists, and the reading that I am doing for the fall.