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.
Earlier this spring, I went on a mini-retreat with a group of high schoolers to start considering spirituality in college and beyond. I gave them three questions to wrestle with throughout the day, questions that I think are core to faith development in emerging adulthood.
Who are you?
Who are you in God?
Who are you in community?
I am always grateful when elders and deacons are getting ordained and installed (as recently happened at BMPC), and we all get to hear the vows they take. But there is one question that always brings me up short, because it was also a question for me when I got ordained as a pastor over four decades ago. “Will you in your own life seek to follow the Lord Jesus Christ, love your neighbors, and work for the reconciliation of the world?” Okay, on my personal to-do list: an oil change for the car – check; cleaning out the gutters on the house – check; and working for the reconciliation of the world – checkmate! It is a good thing to recognize that we, by ourselves, are lacking the capacity to carry out the expansive ministry to which God calls us.
This Sunday, we look forward to welcoming 19 young people into adult membership in the life of our congregation. They have worked over the past year in Confirmation class to gain a deeper understanding of the history and basic tenets of the Christian faith, as well as what it means to be an active part of Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church.
Every year during the season of Eastertide, the Common Lectionary appoints scripture readings which lift up the image of God as the Good Shepherd. On the fourth Sunday of Easter, in each year of the lectionary’s three-year cycle, Psalm 23 and a selection from John 10 are offered to the ecumenical community as appropriate readings for the day. Some churches call it Good Shepherd Sunday, the annual reminder of the powerful biblical image of God’s love and care to protect and guide all people.
There is a common countenance pastors fall into as we approach Easter, and I’m not talking about a thoughtful Lenten discipline of spiritual preparation. It’s the customary response to nearly any request that is not urgent. “Let’s get to that after Easter,” we say.
Without observing Good Friday, one cannot fully appreciate the joy of Easter. On this solemn day, Jesus willingly suffered and died by crucifixion as the ultimate sacrifice for our sins. It was on Good Friday that Jesus broke the bonds of death and sin. We invite you to join us for one of our Good Friday worship services—at noon or at 7:30 p.m.—as we reflect on the depth of Christ’s love and prepare our hearts for the joy of Easter morning.
