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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.

Expressing God’s Deep Care

The Rev. Dr. Kirby Lawrence Hill

Little Bee is a novel written by Chris Cleve. The title character is a young Nigerian woman who encounters murderous oppression in her native land and steals away to England, seeking refugee status. The missionaries who had established the church in her small Nigerian village had left. Little Bee describes it this way: “In our village our only Bible had all its pages missing after the forty-sixth verse of the twenty-seventh chapter of Matthew, so that the end of our religion, as far as any of us knew, was My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? We understood that this was the end of the story.” Imagine having a Bible that ends that way, without resurrection hope and other assurances of God’s ongoing presence with us!

Evening Worship

The Rev. Rachel Pedersen

Practice is a funny word. Sometimes we use it to describe preparation — we practice in anticipation of something, we go to practice before a big game. But practice also can mean the “actual application or use of an idea, belief or method.” It is how we live out what we believe. As Christians we have a number of “practices,” the practical things we do that mark our Christian life. These practices grow with us.

BMPC Youth Camp @ Massanetta Springs!

The Rev. Leigh DeVries

From August 6-11, 20 teenagers and six phenomenal adult leaders headed to Massanetta Springs Camp and Conference Center for a week of fellowship, fun, and faith!

Welcome Kirby and On Call Reminder

The Rev. Dr. Agnes W. Norfleet

It is my pleasure to welcome the Rev. Dr. Kirby Lawrence Hill as our Interim Associate Pastor for Pastoral Care and Senior Adults! Kirby will begin his work among us next week, on August 15, and be introduced to the congregation in worship on August 20. 

Prayer Partners

The Rev. Rachel Pedersen

Like many things, it started during the pandemic. Born out of necessity and a deep desire for the church to stay connected while we were apart, the Prayer Partner Ministry began matching adult members of the congregation with groups of six to eight students. Prayer Partners simply committed to pray for their students throughout the year. Some built connections through cards and notes. Others found connection in surprising moments during committee meetings and church activities. Some never met or exchanged a word.

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.